Hankook Tire to Supply Dynapro R213 for WRC Finale

[Financial News] Hankook Tire & Technology will put its technological capabilities to the test at the season finale of the World Rally Championship (WRC), one of the world's premier motorsport events. The company will supply its all-weather rally tire, Dynapro R213, in Sardinia, Italy, where rough rocks and deeply rutted roads await drivers. With the manufacturers' champion already decided, this event will determine the winner of this season's drivers' championship.
Hankook Tire & Technology announced on the 1st that the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season finale, Rally d'Italia Sardegna, for which it is the exclusive racing tire supplier, will be held from the 1st through the 4th at locations around Alghero on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Celebrating its 23rd edition this year, Rally d'Italia Sardegna is a representative gravel rally held on unpaved roads. The Saudi Arabia Rally, originally scheduled as the season's final event, was removed from the calendar, making Sardinia the venue for this year's WRC finale.
The event will be held across 17 special stages (SS) covering a total of 307.02 km. The narrow, winding roads are surrounded by dense trees and bushes, while sections with "blind crests" make it difficult to see the road conditions beyond the hills, demanding a high level of concentration from drivers.
The course also features the famous Mikis Jump, deeply carved wheel ruts caused by repeated runs, and stretches of rough rock. Because the vehicles are subjected to repeated heavy impacts, tire durability, grip, and driving stability are considered key factors that could determine the results.
For the event, Hankook Tire will supply its extreme all-weather rally tire, Dynapro R213, in two compounds: hard and soft. Dynapro R213 was developed to withstand impacts on gravel roads while maintaining grip and handling performance at high speeds.
The drivers' championship battle will also continue through the final round. In the previous, 12th round, Rally Chile, Oliver Solberg of the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR WRT) claimed his second victory of the season, following his win at Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Based on the result, Toyota secured the 2026 manufacturers' championship early. It was the team's sixth consecutive manufacturers' title since 2021 and its 10th overall. Following the manufacturers' competition, the final drivers' standings will be decided in Sardinia.
Hankook Tire supplies racing tires exclusively to all WRC classes. The company uses driving data collected from more than 70 motorsport events worldwide, including the WRC, in research and development (R&D) and is expanding its high-performance tire technology to mass-produced products.
[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter