Motorsport
Hankook Tire Sponsored WRC ‘Rally Islas Canarias’ Finishes on a High Note
2025. 04. 28
- New to the official WRC calendar, Rally Islas Canarias puts Hankook Tire’s advanced innovation in the spotlight on the global stage
- Hankook Tire’s Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tires delivered exceptional performance despite high surface temperatures and variable weather
- Next up: Round 5 in Portugal, taking place May 15–18, 2025
Seoul, Korea, April 28, 2025 — Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) marked a successful finish to Round 4 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)—Rally Islas Canarias—held across Spain’s Canary Islands from April 24 to 27. As the exclusive tire supplier to the WRC, the premier global motorsport series governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Hankook once again demonstrated its technological edge on the global stage.
Having served as a long-standing fixture of the European Rally Championship (ERC) and Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) since 1977, Rally Islas Canarias officially joined the WRC calendar for the first time this year. Known for its dramatic elevation changes, tightly packed technical sections, and a unique course layout that winds between coastal roads and mountainous terrain, the rally presented a formidable test for both drivers and tires alike. Unpredictable climate conditions—including sharp temperature swings and high winds—further underscored the decisive role of top-tier tire performance in determining the outcome.
In the WRC1 class, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen of the Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team secured a commanding victory. Rovanperä delivered an outstanding performance, winning 15 of the 18 stages to claim his first triumph of the season. With this result, he surged from sixth to second place in the drivers' championship standings and has closed the gap to his leading teammate, Elfyn Evans, to 43 points.
Hankook Tire’s Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tires delivered stable performance even under the high asphalt temperatures of the rally. Designed respectively for dry and wet surface conditions to maximize cornering stability and handling precision, both models supported high-speed runs and repeated precision steering throughout the demanding stages, proving their advanced capabilities in the extreme environment of WRC competition.
The 2025 WRC season spans 14 rounds in 16 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. The next event—Vodafone Rally de Portugal—is set to take place from May 15 to 18 in northern Portugal. Renowned for its mix of soft sand and rugged gravel roads, the rally is celebrated by both fans and drivers as one of the most thrilling and unpredictable events on the calendar, thanks to its variable terrain and ever-changing weather conditions.
As of the 2025 season, Hankook Tire has taken on the role of exclusive tire supplier for all WRC classes over a three-year term, solidifying its position as a core technology partner of the championship. Drawing on expertise developed through participation in elite motorsport series such as WRC, Formula E, and endurance racing, the company continues to strengthen its competitiveness in the global premium tire market.
