Hankook is supplying the tyres for the new W Series, a championship exclusively for women racing drivers trying to climb up the ladder in what is often a male-dominated sport.

It will provide the 16 Formula 3 cars with its high-end racing tyre, the Ventus Race (F200 slick and Z217 wet), in sizes VA 230/560-13 and HA 280/580-13. An initial application list of 100 drivers from more than 30 countries was whittled down to 60 and then to the 18 who will line up for the six-race series which starts in May after a selection process by a panel of experts which included former Grand Prix winner, David Coulthard. Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe, said: “We are very enthusiastic about this new partnership with W Series and are looking forward to supporting this fascinating new race format to the best of our ability with the Ventus Race tyre and our know-how. One major reason for our involvement is the fact that W Series is exclusively for women. This is great, as it allows female drivers to develop in a professional environment within the motorsport scene, which is still male-dominated. However, we are not just thinking about the women in the cockpit, but also want to ensure that female mechanics, engineers and team managers get more opportunities in motorsport too.” Dave Ryan, Racing Director W Series, added: “Hankook has an impressive global presence in motorsport and is the tyre partner of many racing series around the world, whether in touring cars, single-seaters, endurance racing or rallying. Its high-tech products, know-how and global involvement in motorsport make Hankook the perfect partner for us. It will provide optimal support for the W Series, not only with its race tyres, but also its engineers and mechanics.”