Stories
The Story of Oct, 2023
31 Oct 2023
Zanasi and Giacon set the pace in Mugello
The BMW M2 Racing Cup Italy visited the 5.245-kilometre racetrack in Mugello, Italy, from 20th
September to 1st October. The high grip level of the Hankook tyre helped the protagonists to produce two
exciting and hugely entertaining races in the one-make cup. Italian Marco Zanasi won the opening race of the
weekend. Race two was won by Steven Giacon (Italy). The two race winners are also sitting pretty at the top of the
table. Giacon leads the championship on 136 points, with Zanasi just one point back in second place.
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHO-SRzqHMs
Title race between Masson and Boya comes to a head
Just one point separates Esteban Masson (France) and Mari Boya (Spain) going into the final round of this
season’s Eurocup-3. The two title contenders have won nine of the season’s twelve races so far on the Hankook Ventus
Race, demonstrating their title ambitions from day one. And it was Masson and Boya who again dominated the action at
the front of the field at the penultimate event of the year (13th to 15th October). The two
rivals each claimed one race win at the circuit in Valencia, Spain. Spectators at the finale in Barcelona can look
forward to an exciting duel for the title. Denmark’s Sebastian Øgaard could add an extra degree of excitement: the
third-placed racer trails the championship leader by 15 points and could also clinch the title should results go his
way.
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0KIl6WIxo
Strong weekend puts Théophile Naël on course for the title
Théophile Naël (Spain) left Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain (13th to 15th October) with a 65-point lead in the Spanish Formula 4 championship, having picked up a third place and a win in two of the three races at the track near Valencia. Those results mean Naël now has one hand on the title. He has made the best use of the high level of grip provided by the Hankook Ventus Race all season, and looks set to triumph in the Spanish talent factory. The youngster could wrap up the championship in the opening race of the finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain).
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK2GLh040zg
Casagrande and Rossi win in Buenos Aires
From 7th to 8th October, the protagonists in the Stock Car Pro Series travelled to their only event outside Brazil. The Hankook Ventus Race impressed with a strong performance for the ninth race weekend this season – this time at the circuit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Victory in the opening race went to Gabriel Casagrande (Brazil). Local favourite Matías Rossi won the second race of the weekend in front of his home crowd. Casagrande tops the championship table with 249 points, ahead of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello (227) and Thiago Camilo (216). The series travels to Velocitta, Cascavel and Interlagos for the final three events of the season.
Highlights of race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM4ZK6mYrM0
Highlights of race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Mr6MvniVs
Siblings win the FIA Junior ERC title in Hankook’s first season
An exciting first season for Hankook in the FIA Junior European Rally championship (JERC) drew to a close with the Rally Hungary at the start of October. Victory on the final special stage saw Romanian siblings Norbert and Francesca Maior not only secure their first win of the season, but also the title in the European rally championship for juniors. In the end, the brother and sister won the rally and the championship by a mere 7.1 seconds. Hankook’s premium tyre showed no weakness in any of the diverse track conditions and ensured the youngsters had perfect grip on all the stages.
Interview with Norbert Maior: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyJkDrKNion/
Emotional champions: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyLYWqytJGP/
Milo Socardenne wins the title in the Kronos Fun Cup powered by Hankook
Favourites Lorenzo Donniacuo, Kevin Caprasse and Timo van Impe (all Belgium) not only won the race at the final event in Zolder, Belgium (7th to 8th October), but also the title in the Kronos Fun Cup powered by Hankook. After a good start, the Belgian trio looked certain to be crowned champions. However, an issue with the radio threw a spanner in the works. The lack of communication resulted in the eventual champions losing a number of places during the pit stop. However, thanks to the high grip level of the Hankook tyres, they were able to battle their way back to the head of the field. At the end of the eight-hour race and an impressive fightback, they crossed the finish line as winners and champions.
Grid walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsB2jJHXGKo
Race start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om-ceIxqyVs
First win of the season for Fabio Sacchi at the “Preis der Erftquelle”
Fabio Sacchi (Germany) won round seven of the Circuit Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3. This was the first victory of the season for Sacchi on the legendary asphalt of the Nürburgring, as he came out on top against 148 competitors, all battling for fast lap times on the Hankook Ventus Race. Ahead of the finale in this grassroots championship, the title race is still wide open. The pairing of Joel Meili (Switzerland) and Fabian Tillmann (Germany) go into the three-hour race as championship leaders. Just 0.03 points separate the German/Swiss duo and second-placed Heiko Seiwert and Patrick Orth (both Germany).
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJMBzwAyAI
Girolami back on top: title race to be decided in Imola
Franco Girolami produced a particularly impressive display with some fine results at the TCR Italy race weekend in Vallelunga, Italy (14th to 15th October). The Argentinean battled his was from fifth on the grid to finish runner-up in the Saturday race, thanks in part to the perfect grip provided by the Hankook Ventus Race. Victory went to Aurélien Comte (France), who briefly moved to the top of the table. Girolami then ended Sunday’s race on the top step of the podium and consequently reclaimed the championship lead from Comte. A captivating battle for the title in the Italian touring car championship awaits spectators in Imola.
Full replay of race 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H8yElbbDE&t=2569s
Full replay of race 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25M3La_ikKg
Pure excitement: Four-way battle for the championship in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux powered by Hankook
From 13th to 15th October, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium hosted the penultimate round of this season’s BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux powered by Hankook. Dutchmen Dante Rappange and Dirk Warmerdam were first across the finish line in race nine of the season. Victory in race ten went to Dick van Elk and Sandra van der Sloot (both Netherlands). Senna van Soelen and Mark van der Aa from the Netherlands, together with South African Leyton Furie, are top of the championship table. The drivers will contest a further three races at the final round, which takes place in Assen, Netherlands. Four teams come into the grand finale still with aspirations of being crowned 2023 champions.