NEU ISENBURG, Germany (May 2, 2013) — The organizers of the DTM German Touring Car Championship have extended the series' race tire supply contract with Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. for three more years, through the 2016 season.
Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Hankook has been the series' exclusive race tire supplier since the 2011 season and also has an option to extend the new contract beyond 2016.
Additionally, Hankook will start supplying two different compound tires at each race starting this season, providing the teams the option of using a softer, grippier compound for faster lap times, albeit with a tradeoff of shorter performance life, the company said.
"The use of two different tire compounds in the race certainly will make for more action and more overtaking manuevers," said Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of ITR e.V., the series' organizing body.
The option "Ventus Race Plus" slick, which each driver must use at some point during each race, is identified by a distinct sidewall design.
This option is now common in many race series, including Formula 1, IndyCar, etc.
"The first two years of our partnership with Hankook absolutely convinced us of the competitiveness of this company," Mr. Aufrecht said.
"Therefore, it was absolutely clear for us that we want to continue this successful partnership beyond 2013. The early extension of the deal is the logical consequence."
Mr. Hyun-Bum Cho, president and chief marketing officer/chief corporate management officer at Hankook Tire, called the DTM "one of the most popular and well organized race series" around the world that has provided Hankook an "ideal platform to demonstrate…advanced and futuristic race tire technology…."
The company's experience with the DTM also led ITR to award the South Korean tire maker the race tire contract for the Formula 3 Euro Series, another ITR-sanctioned series. Hankook has that contract for the 2012-13 seasons.