Rallye Monte Carlo,’ the 2025 WRC Season Opener Sponsored by Hankook Tire Concludes in Spectacular Fashion

Successful conclusion of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship opener validates global top-tier technology

High-performance rally tires engineered for challenging mountain terrains and snowy roads propel outstanding vehicle performance

Next stop: WRC Rally Sweden, February 13 to 16

Scenes from the 2025 WRC Opening Round ‘Rallye Monte-Carlo’ Sponsored by Hankook Tire

Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) successfully wrapped up the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the premier motorsport series, with the ‘Rallye Monte Carlo,’ held on January 26 (local time).

The ‘Rallye Monte Carlo’ is infamous among drivers for its unpredictable course, featuring a mix of snow, ice, dry, and damp surfaces. During this year’s event, competitors battled it out in intense rallying over four days, covering a total distance of 1,630 kilometers.

After an intense rally, the season’s first victory for the WRC1 class was claimed by Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais of the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team. They secured the win by driving vehicles equipped with Hankook Tire’s tarmac rally tire, the Ventus Z215, and snow rally tire, the Winter i*cept SR20. This achievement also marked a historic milestone for Sébastien Ogier, who celebrated his record-breaking 10th triumph at the Monte Carlo Rallye.

Through the opening round, Hankook Tire, as the exclusive supplier of rally tires, showcased its tarmac and snow rally tires, expertly engineered for challenging road conditions. This not only demonstrated the company’s cutting-edge technology but also reaffirmed the premium status of its global integrated brand, “Hankook,” solidifying its position as a top-tier brand to motorsports fans worldwide.

In particular, the tarmac rally tire ‘Ventus Z215’ along with the snow rally tire ‘Winter i*cept SR20,’ received high praise from drivers and event officials. These rally tires demonstrated exceptional grip and durability, ensuring stability and delivering outstanding rallying performance even in the harshest winter conditions.

The WRC is one of the world’s top three motorsport competitions, alongside Formula 1, and features extreme racing across diverse terrains worldwide. Unlike circuit racing, which takes place on paved tracks, WRC events challenge drivers to navigate from a designated start to a finish point through rugged terrains, including paved and unpaved roads, snow-covered paths, and muddy tracks. These harsh conditions make durable, high-performing tires one of the most critical strategic elements of the competition.

Starting with the 2025 season, Hankook Tire will exclusively supply rally tires for all WRC classes over the next three years, reinforcing its position as a global leader in cutting-edge technology. To meet the rigorous demands of WRC, the company has conducted more than 2,000 kilometers of testing across 8 countries since 2023, developing FIA-certified high-performance rally tires that are engineered to deliver optimal performance in the most extreme driving conditions.

Meanwhile, the ‘2025 WRC’ will feature 14 rounds across 16 countries, from January to November, starting with the iconic ‘Rallye Monte Carlo.’ The second round, ‘WRC Rally Sweden,’ is scheduled to take place from February 13 to 16 (local time). This rally is the only WRC event where the entire course is covered in snow and ice, presenting a unique and formidable challenge for drivers.

About Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.

With unparalleled pursuit of innovation and technological excellence at its core, Hankook Tire & Technology continues to actively invest in the expansion of its essential capabilities to deliver consumers the utmost satisfaction on the road. Currently operating in over 160 countries, Hankook has eight production sites and five R&D centers around the world, with over 20,000 highly dedicated professionals. Hankook Tire produces exceptional quality, high-performance radial tires for passenger cars, 4x4s, SUVs, light trucks, campers, trucks, buses and motorsport vehicles.

Hankook Tire & Technology actively participates in global sustainability initiatives and is committed to making the world a better place to live. In recognition of the commitment, Hankook Tire was first recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices World (DJSI World) in 2011 and more recently has been on the list for the past six years starting from 2016. In addition, the company received the highest rating from EcoVadis Business Sustainability Rating for three years in a row.

Por: Joan Heo