DTM extends Hankook deal til 2019

HOCKENHEIM, Germany (May 6, 2016) — The promoter of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) has extended the series' race tire contract with Hankook Tire Co. Inc. for three years, through the 2019 season.

Officials from DTM Promoter ITR e.V. and Hankook signed the contract extension recently in Hockenheim, the site of the series' first race in the 2016 season.

Hankook has been the series' sole race tire supplier since the start of the 2012 season.

Hankook described the contract extension as “indication of the successful relationship up until now, as well as an expression of trust in the future sustainable tire technology provided by the manufacturer.”

ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht cited the “trusting cooperation” with Hankook and the tire company's performance capability as reasons that led his company to extend its partnership with Hankook.

“With regard to further internationalization and future technical regulations, the professionalism which we have come to know and expect from our tire partner Hankook is a major factor.”

Hankook supplies the DTM with a range of Ventus Race tires for the three participating car makers, Audi A.G., BMW A.G. and Mercedes Benz A.G.

Ho-Youl Pae, head of Hankook's European business, noted the importance of having a direct involvement with premium car makers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz.

Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt called the partnership with Hankook a “true collaboration” that leads to finding the best possible compromise between performance and durability.

The 2016 DTM season kicks off this weekend (May 6-8) at Hockenheim and will conclude Oct. 14-16 back at the same track. In all, nine race weekends are scheduled at tracks in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Russia.

There are 10 teams entered with 24 drivers.

Separately, ITR disclosed that it has struck an exclusive racing wheel supply deal for the series starting in 2017 with ATS Leichtmetallräder G.m.b.H., a unit of Uniwheels A.G. The deal calls for all competitors to use forged aluminum ATS-brand wheels for the 2017-2019 seasons.