Hankook named new Audi Sport TT Cup exclusive tyre

Hankook Tyre has been chosen by Audi as its first partner for the Audi Sport TT Cup. The international brand cup based on the newly developed Audi TT racing version will start at selected events within the framework of the DTM from 2015.

It has been launched to give young international racing drivers an opportunity of getting into professional motor sport. The racing cars are based on the new Audi TT and fitted exclusively with Hankook Ventus Race racing tyres.

Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook is also supplying tyres for the racing version of the new Audi TT. In the wake of the new TT and TTS Coupé and Roadster road legal versions of Audi’s design icon being factory equipped with Ultra-High-Performance road tyres of the type Hankook Ventus S1 evo², the company has now also been chosen as the exclusive tyre supplier and first official partner for the new Audi Sport TT Cup.

The racing version of the third Audi TT generation delivers 228 kW (310 hp) of power at a weight of only 1,125 kg. The output of the two-liter TFSI engine can even be boosted by 22 kW (30 hp) using a so-called push-to-pass function. Motor sport tyres (slicks or rain tyres) of the type Hankook Ventus Race in the size 260/660 R 18 are to be fitted all round. The cars are being managed centrally by Audi’s subsidiary quattro GmbH.

“The global interest in the Audi Sport TT Cup is overwhelming,” explains Rolf Michl, Audi’s project manager. “We are extremely pleased with the large number of entries, but even more so with the quality and international attention the competition is attracting.

“On the basis of the response so far, we will have a great field of starters for the premiere season. The subject of tyres is vitally important in motor sports,” Michl continues. “It will play a major role in educating our young racing drivers. Hankook has an enormous amount of know-how and is the perfect partner for the Audi Sport TT Cup,” he adds.

“We are pleased to be able to expand our commitment to motor sports by this attractive new Audi brand cup,” adds Manfred Sandbichler, Motor Sports director at Hankook Tyre Europe.

“The tyres we are supplying as original fitment to the Audi TT road cars are derived from technologies used in the DTM, where we have been cooperating very successfully with Audi Sport for years. Participants in the new Audi Sport TT Cup will also benefit from this experience,” Sandbichler says.