STUTTGART, Germany — Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. has extended its relationship with the organizers of the DTM German Touring Car Championship to include the DTM Trophy, a GT-based "feeder series" that will run alongside the DTM championship.
The new series, organized by the DTM's umbrella organization ITR G.m.b.H., is aimed at professional, junior and amateur racers, ITR said, and is intended to highlight and promote young racing talent.
DTM Trophy races will be held at seven of the DTM's 20 race weekends in 2020. There will be three
The winner of the DTM Trophy's junior classification — for drivers under the age of 22 — will earn the chance to test a DTM car at the end of the 2020 season, ITR said.
The DTM Trophy is open to near-series-spec GT cars eligible for FIA categories E2-SH and E2-SC, ITR said. Among the manufacturer brands eligible would be Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Jaguar, Lotus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Nissan, Porsche and Toyota, all of which have a GT car in their product portfolios with 400 to 500 hp, ITR said.
Hankook — which has supplied the DTM since 2011 and extended the supply deal this summer through the 2023 season — will be the DTM Trophy's exclusive tire supplier as well, for the coming four seasons, ITR said.
ITR Managing Director Achim Kostron called the DTM Trophy an "extremely attractive package for ambitious youngsters and serious professionals alike — with the added bonus of some highly desirable prizes and incentives."
Manfred Sandbichler, motorsport director, Hankook Tire Europe, added: "As a long-standing DTM partner, it was only logical for us to extend our successful collaboration into the DTM Trophy."
As the series' tire supplier, Hankook will receive branding on all cars, driver overalls and team uniforms and will get additional exposure on the victory podium where the top-three finishers in each race will wear Hankook-branded caps.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
DTM Trophy races are scheduled for DTM race weekends at: Zolder, Belgium (April 24-26); Lausitzring, Germany (May 15-17); Anderstorp, Sweden (June 12-14); Norisring, Germany (July 10-12); Assen, Germany (Sept. 4-6); Nürburgring, Germany (Sept. 11-13); and Hockenheimring, Germany (Oct. 2-4).