Hankook to supply DTM tyres until 2016

The DTM has announced that Hankook will supply its tyres until the end of the 2016 season.

The South Korean firm replaced Dunlop at the start of the 2011 season as the DTM’s tyre supplier, after the latter had supplied the series since its revival in 2000.

“The first two years of our partnership with Hankook absolutely convinced us of the competitiveness of this company,” said DTM chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht.

“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.”

Hankook will also introduce an option-tyre to the series, which begins this weekend at Hockenheim. Despite improving performance by an approximated 1-1.5 seconds a lap, the new softer compound has a shelf life of around five to seven laps and has been brought in to try and improve the level of on-track action in the DTM.

“We all are keen on finding out how the new tyre will prove of value, this year,” Aufrecht continued.

“The use of two different tyre compounds in the race certainly will make for more action and more overtaking manoeuvres.

We have to thank the Hankook engineers: we asked them to design a tyre that allows for faster lap times for a short period of time but with a quickly decreasing performance level afterwards. And they delivered in great style.”