Kumho Tire, Exclusive Supplier of Tires for Major TCR Competitions

Five Additional Competitions This Year
Recognized for Technical Skill and Quality

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Kumho Tire announced that it will exclusively supply racing tires to major races this year in the TCR (Touring Car Racing) series, a motorsport competition based on mass-produced cars.

This season, Kumho Tire will exclusively supply tires for two regional TCR competitions in South America and the Middle East, as well as three national TCR competitions in Australia, Brazil, and Finland. TCR is an event hosted by the World Sporting Consulting (WSC) Group, which leads global touring car racing competitions, and was launched in 2015. TCR races are operated under the same regulations certified by the F?d?ration Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Participating vehicles are equipped with highly refined systems such as a 2.0ℓ turbo engine producing up to 350 horsepower and a sequential transmission to enhance driving performance. Currently, 25 vehicles from 16 brands compete in this series. All have received certification for race car platform manufacturing technology.

Last year's TCR Europe race scene

Since the competition is based on mass-produced cars, the advertising effect is significant. Vehicles such as the Audi RS3 LMS TCR, Honda Civic TCR, Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, and Hyundai Elantra N TCR participate in the races. These cars use the racing tire ECSTA S700, which provides excellent grip and stable handling even at high speeds, and the ECSTA W701 racing tire, which offers good driving performance and stability on wet roads.

Kumho Tire has exclusively supplied tires to TCR Europe, Eastern Europe, TCR Denmark, and TCR Spain since last year. Because high-performance vehicles are used for the competitions, the technical and quality requirements are stringent. By additionally securing exclusive supply contracts for five more competitions this year, the company expects not only to be recognized for its technical capabilities but also to enhance its brand value through motorsport sponsorship.

Marcello Lotti, Chairman of the WSC Group, said, "We carefully select tire manufacturers participating in the TCR series and sign exclusive supply contracts. Kumho Tire was recognized for its technology and quality through objective performance evaluations and has become an official partner in major competitions."

Yoon Jang-hyuk, Executive Director of Marketing at Kumho Tire, said, "Since last year, Kumho Tire has been selected as the exclusive supplier of racing tires, and our technology has been recognized in global motorsport competitions."

Previously, the company participated as the official tire sponsor of the TCR Korea Touring Car Championship, which was held for the first time in Korea in 2018. In 2007, Kumho Tire was the first in the domestic tire industry to develop a prototype F1 racing tire, establishing itself as a leader in racing tire technology.