WRC

Hankook, acceptable start but still work to do

If Monte Carlo was not the dreaded disaster, not everything went well, especially in terms of grip. The discovery side of the new tires was one of the attractions of the race and the latter was not decided by a rubber problem, but there will be no shortage of work for next year.

Published 08/02/2025 à 13:40

Loïc ROCCI

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Hankook, acceptable start but still work to do

Hankook - Photo: Bastien Roux / DPPI

A surprising scene occurred at the finish of the Monte Carlo. As the competitors one by one made their way to the port of Monaco where the final finish and then the Parc Fermé were located, no Hankook executive was present. No one to congratulate the crews, take stock of the few days that had just been fought over with the media and show satisfaction at having finished the most demanding of the rounds in terms of tire choice. Surprising? Given how the months following the announcement of the identity of the sole manufacturer of the WRC for three years (2025 to 2027), it is not so surprising.

During the call for tenders launched in 2023, there were several surprises. The first was Pirelli's decision not to continue its involvement for an additional period. Then, in the duel between Michelin and Hankook, it was the latter that was selected despite its inexperience in the matter. With a result announced very late (December 6), the newcomers were already under pressure to be ready after twelve months. In such a context, the expected reaction was to see the manufacturer find solutions to multiply the tests in order to develop tires suitable for Rally1, 2 and 3. There were none.

To assess the behaviour of its tyres, the manufacturer relied mainly on the ten days granted by the FIA, in addition to the 21 that the

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Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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2 Comment (s)

DANIEL MEYERS

09/02/2025 at 02:20 a.m.

According to the comments gleaned here and there, in Sweden it risks being a real mess! See a real Berezina.

1

C

Christophe

08/02/2025 at 04:19 a.m.

For the moment 300 km in the mud so not too selective, then Sweden will be another step because their snow tire seems unpredictable then the hard ground arrives and there, there will be the revealer but all this is very sad for the WRC to finish with tier 2 tires.

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