The FIA is pleased to announce that the South Korean tyre manufacturer, Hankook Tire, will become the official tyre supplier for the 2013 Junior WRC Championship.

Hankook will provide tyres from its Ventus Z range for tarmac rallies and Ventus R range for gravel events. Both types of tyres have tread patterns specially designed for front-wheel-drive cars. The Junior WRC crews will also benefit from specialist tyre training sessions with Hankook engineers, learning about the tyres’ differing performances and handling characteristics, as well the general importance of tyre management both in competition and under normal road conditions.

Jarmo Mahonen, FIA Rally Director, said: “Hankook Tire, with its history of supporting motor sport at all levels, will help the next generation of rally drivers to develop and progress through rallying’s ‘ladder of opportunity’. We look forward to working closely as we seek to further improve this already successful series.”

Hankook Tire is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing tyre manufacturers for innovative high-quality and high-performance radial tyres for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks and buses, as well as motor sports.

The 2013 FIA Junior WRC Championship takes in six European rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, and starts with the Rally de Portugal in April.