ERC
Hankook on a high in ERC Tyre Supplier contest
Hankook scored its first FIA European Rally Championship victory of the season as Adam Březík won Barum Czech Rally Zlín, the company’s second win on the event in the last three years.
While Dominik Stříteský’s first-place finish two years came in mixed conditions, Březík triumphed in ambient temperatures exceeding 32 degrees centigrade, with the 55th edition of the event taking place in dry conditions throughout.
Březík benefited from the performance and durability of Hankook’s medium-compound tyre during the sealed-surface contest, which featured a competitive route of 205.79 kilometres and maintained the event’s reputation as one of the most challenging on the international calendar.
Michelin equipped fifth-place finisher Matulka
© ERC
Hankook also equipped the FIA Junior ERC competitors as part of an exclusive agreement with Tom Heindrichs taking top honours in the young driver category and also winning FIA ERC4.
Although Hankook remains fourth in the race to win the FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Suppliers, it heads to the penultimate round of the season, next month’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion, three points behind MRF Tyres, which holds third place in the provisional order.
Vatanen (right) won the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy on Pirelli tyres
© ERC
Pirelli continues to lead the FIA European Rally Championship for Tyre Suppliers after it scored 45 points – two more than Hankook – on Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The Italian manufacturer is 40 points ahead of Michelin, having started the event 31 points in front. Pirelli supplied Teemu Suninen and Andrea Mabellini, who finished second and third respectively, while Michelin supplied fourth- and fifth-place finishers Miko Marczyk and Jakub Matulka.
“The Barum subjected tyres and cars to a particularly severe test, with 13 special stages and more than 200 competitive kilometres tackled on demanding surfaces and in unusually high temperatures,” said Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s rally activity manager. “The hard compound, selected as the primary option for the weekend, delivered consistent performance and reliability through to the final stage. These results confirm the competitiveness of our product and allow us to approach the closing phase of the championship from an even stronger position.”
There was more Pirelli success when Ville Vatanen scored his third FIA ERC3 victory of the season, while also clinching the Pirelli-backed ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy title.
Team MRF Tyres has now made 50 ERC starts
© ERC
Meanwhile, Team MRF Tyres celebrated 50 ERC starts on Barum Czech Rally Zlín with Simone Tempestini its top finisher in seventh place overall.
FIA European Rally Championship after 5 of 7 rounds:
1 Pirelli 236 points
2 Michelin 196
3 MRF 155
4 Hankook 152
