"Kumho Tire Launches Junior Driver Program for Racing Talent Development"

Kumho Tire announced on the 28th that it will launch the 'Kumho Junior Driver Program,' the industry's first initiative to discover outstanding talents in motorsports. The plan aims to promote the development and revitalization of the domestic motorsports industry and to establish the Kumho Tire EXRTA Racing Team as the top prestigious team in Korea.

The Kumho Junior Driver Program is a nurturing program designed to support promising racing driver prospects in their development into professional athletes. Selected drivers will receive mentoring from the Kumho Tire EXRTA Racing Team and participate in training programs that transfer racing-related know-how and skills.

This nurturing program offers the same educational curriculum and professional trainer support as the main drivers. Participants will also take part in official driving performance tests to gain practical driving experience. Additionally, they can directly test various versions of racing tires provided by Kumho Tire. Opportunities to compete alongside main drivers in domestic motorsports events will also be given.

Song Young-kwang, selected as the first sponsorship recipient of the Kumho Tire Junior Driver Program
[Photo by Kumho Tire]

The first sponsored candidate for this Kumho Junior Driver Program is driver Song Young-kwang, who competed in the CJ Logistics Superrace GT1 class until last year. Song entered motorsports through karting in 2019 and debuted in the CJ Logistics Superrace GT1 in 2021 at the youngest age of 17. This season, he is participating in the CJ Superrace 6000 class as a member of the Kumho Tire EXRTA Racing Team.

Song said, "This is a great opportunity to learn from and grow with the top domestic Kumho Tire EXRTA Racing Team's expertise," adding, "I will strive to become a leading racing driver representing Korea through the Junior Program."

Yoon Jang-hyuk, Executive Director of G. Marketing at Kumho Tire, stated, "We hope the Kumho Junior Driver Program will become a gateway for young talents to emerge as world-class racers," and added, "Besides proving our world-class technology through motorsports, Kumho Tire will seek ways to contribute to the development of motorsports culture."