The Story of June, 2023

Outstanding weekend in Jakarta: Maximilian Günther dominates in Indonesia

Maserati driver Maximilian Günther enjoyed a sensational weekend at the Jakarta E-Prix in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The 25-year-old produced an impressive qualifying performance to secure his first two pole positions of the current campaign. He then finished third in race ten on the season at the 2.370-kilometre track in Jakarta. The second race of the weekend was to prove even more successful for Günther, who took a commanding lights-to-flag victory. The win earned the German a place in the history books, as it was the first victory for Maserati in a world championship since 1957. “A very proud moment. I am overjoyed with this win,” said Günther after his success. The Hankook iON Race also impressed in scorching conditions with its high level of grip, performing perfectly over the entire race distance.

Onboard footage of Maximilian Günther’s pole-setting lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKKq-S68_Y

403 overtaking manoeuvres make the Portland E-Prix a thriller

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps welcomed the Supercar Challenge powered by Hankook with temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius from 4th to 6th June. The Koopman Racing team emerged victorious with a BMW M6 GT3 in race five of the season at the 7.004-kilometre Ardennes Rollercoaster. JR Motorsport, also fielding a BMW M6 GT3, won the sixth race of the year and moved to the top of the championship table as a result. The next event takes the protagonists to the former Formula 1 circuit in Zolder from 7th to 9th July.

Highlights from Spa-Francorchamps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMyluKf9Ds

48 cars line up at exciting season-opener in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe

Hankook goes to France: The European championship in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series kicked off the new season from 4th to 6th June in Le Castellet, France. The large field consisted of 48 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO 2 and provided some thrilling motorsport at the 5.842-kilometre Circuit Paul Ricard. The crowds witnessed exciting battles in both races, in which the Hankook Ventus Race provided the 620-hp sports cars with the necessary grip. The first win of the new season went to Mattia Michelotto and Gilles Stadsbader from the VS Racing Team. In race two, it was Marzio Moretti and Sebastian Balthasar from the Oregon Team who crossed the finish line first. Moretti and Balthasar travel to the next event, at Spa-Francorchamps from 29th June to 1st July, as championship leaders on 27 points.

Highlights from Le Castellet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91uIPPXc0M

Supercar Challenge powered by Hankook: Two wins for the BMW M6 GT3 at Spa-Francorchamps

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps welcomed the Supercar Challenge powered by Hankook with temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius from 4th to 6th June. The Koopman Racing team emerged victorious with a BMW M6 GT3 in race five of the season at the 7.004-kilometre Ardennes Rollercoaster. JR Motorsport, also fielding a BMW M6 GT3, won the sixth race of the year and moved to the top of the championship table as a result. The next event takes the protagonists to the former Formula 1 circuit in Zolder from 7th to 9th July.

Highlights from Spa-Francorchamps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMyluKf9Ds

Scherer Sport Team PHX wins the Hankook 12h Monza

Race five of this season’s 24h Series powered by Hankook took place from 10th to 11th June at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The first part of the Hankook 12h Monza ended after six hours and 30 minutes with the Scherer Sport Team PHX at the head of the field. The Audi team, with Elia Erhart (D), Michael Doppelmayr (A) and Pierre Kaffer (D) at the wheel, retained the upper hand in the second session of the endurance race and went on to claim their first win of the season. The next event in the 24h Series powered by Hankook takes place on 7th and 8th July, when the track in Estoril hosts a six-hour qualifying race, followed by the 12-hour main race.

Eurocup-3: A brace of wins for Mari Boya in Monza, Italy

Spaniard Mari Boya ended a successful weekend at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 11th June with two wins and a pole position to his name. The 19-year-old took full advantage of the performance of the Hankook tyre and consequently climbed into second place in the Eurocup-3 table. Boya now lies just four points behind French-Canadian championship leader Esteban Masson with 98 points. The battle for the title enters its next round from 15th to 16th July in Zandvoort, Netherlands.

Highlights from Monza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBIHErAt_Xg

Daniel Serra and Eduardo Barrichello win in Cascavel, Brazil

Zilmar Beux International Speedway hosted round four of this season’s Brazilian Stock Car Pro Series from 17th to 19th June. The Hankook tyre mastered the circuit in Cascavel, once regarded as one of the most demanding racetracks in Brazil, without any issues and provided all the drivers with perfect grip. The opening race went down to the final few laps, with Daniel Serra emerging victorious from a thrilling battle with Felipe Fraga. Eduardo Barrichello, son of former Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello, claimed his maiden victory in the series in race two. After four events, Gabriel Casagrande tops the table with 135 points. The fifth stop of the season is at the current Formula 1 circuit in Interlagos from 7th to 9th July.

Highlights of race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_0wJ3aMVZE
Highlights of race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmqTgUZKOUA

ERC Tet Rally Liepāja: Ola Nore Jr. claims his second win of the season

The protagonists in FIA Junior ERC put on a fantastic display of rally action on 17th and 18th June at the ERC Tet Rally Liepāja. The Estonian duo of Jasper Vaher and Evelin Mitendorf opened a comfortable 35-second lead on the first five special stages of the Rally Latvia. Australian Max McRae and his co-driver Mac Kierans from Ireland then took the lead on the final stage of the opening day. Day two was all about Norwegians Ola Nore Jr. and Torsten Eriksen. The Scandinavians skilfully exploited the strengths of the Hankook Dynapro on the gravel route and went on to take victory at the end of the rally. This was Nore’s second success of the season, having also won the opening event.

Highlights of the ERC Tet Rally Liepāja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkxe8KyB1nM

Hankook on show for the eighth time at the Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring

This year’s ADAC Truck Grand Prix takes place from 13th to 16th July at the Nürburgring. The event is one of the highlights on the truck racing calendar and every year attracts well over 100,000 visitors to the iconic racetrack in Germany. The mix of racing action, festival and trade fair also makes it an important date for premium tyre maker Hankook. The Korean brand is making its eighth appearance there as an exhibitor and will present a large selection from its new truck and bus tyre portfolio. The tyre specialist is also supporting the team of six-time European truck champion Jochen Hahn, who currently lies second in the championship table.

Entertaining Kronos Fun Cup racing at Circuit de Charade

The Kronos Fun Cup lived up to its name at Circuit de Charade in France on 17th and 18th June. Not only did the drivers have plenty of fun in the two four-hour races, but so did the spectators. In the opening race of the weekend, the Clubsport Racing team was victorious with drivers Koen De Wit (NL) and Antoine Morlet (B). Milo Racing then won race two after an intense battle with Socardenne Milo. The highlight of the season – the Hankook 25 Hours Fun Cup at Spa-Francorchamps – is just around the corner. The event in the Belgian Ardennes takes place from 13th to 16th July.

Three different winners in the Formula 4 United States Championship in Mid-Ohio

The Formula 4 United States Championship travelled to the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course from 23rd to 25th June for round three of the season. In Michael Costello, Augusto Soto-Schirripa and Patrick Woods Toth, races seven to nine produced three different winners from three different teams. The Hankook Ventus Race provided plenty of grip in both dry and wet conditions. Round four of the season takes the young drivers to New Jersey Motorsports Park on the last weekend in July.

One-two-three for Schmickler Performance in the Circuit Challenge Nürburgring

The Schmickler Performance team claimed a sensational one-two-three with two different manufacturers at the fourth event in this season’s Circuit Challenge Nürburgring (Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring) on 24th June. Victory went to Michael Luther and Markus Schmickler in a BMW M4 GT4. 146 cars lined up on the legendary Nordschleife, all on premium Hankook tyres. The RCN drivers return to the Nürburgring for the next round on 29th July.