Hankook to continue as tyre supplier for W Series

W Series, partnered by Acronis, will continue to use Hankook as its Global Tyre Partner for the 2021 season.

The only international single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers has been supplied by Hankook racing tyres since the highly successful inaugural season in 2019. And with the 2021 season staging eight races in partnership with Formula 1, the series will have more eyes than ever watching on.

“W Series’ inaugural season was a great success and Hankook played a big part in that, so today’s news that one of our founding partners is continuing to support our mission is fantastic,” commented Catherine Bond Muir, Chief Executive Officer, W Series. “Despite the enforced postponement of our second season, the momentum behind W Series remains strong and, with the support of all of our partners and Formula 1, 2021 is set to be a very exciting year for us.”

Hankook will supply W Series’ Tatuus T-318 F3 race cars with the Ventus Race F200 slick tyres for dry running and the Z217 tyres in intermediate or wet conditions. In addition, Hankook’s engineers and mechanics will provide support throughout the season, helping W Series’ drivers extract more performance from the tyres.

“Hankook has supported W Series as exclusive tyre partner since day one, because we want to help the young drivers find their feet and establish themselves in a motorsport world that is still male-dominated,” commented Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe. “We are pleased to be able to support W Series again in 2021, now on the same bill as Formula 1. With the Ventus Race tyre, Hankook wants to help the drivers show exactly what they are capable of on an international stage.”

The W Series starts at Circuit Paul Ricard on 26 June with 2019 W Series Champion, Extreme E Driver and Williams Racing Development Driver Jamie Chadwick defending her crown.

“Having confidence in the performance of the tyres is vital when you are racing on the limit, and Hankook’s quality and consistency in all conditions during W Series’ first season helped all of the drivers focus on racing which produced lots of exciting on-track battles,” added Chadwick.

“This year will be an even bigger challenge as we visit eight new circuits with Formula 1, but I know that Hankook’s team will rise to the occasion again, allowing my competitors and I to shine on motor racing’s biggest stage.”