Sam Bird (GBR) beats the heat with the Hankook iON Race to win the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in the Brazilian megacity of São Paulo. Despite an ambient temperature of 35 degrees, rising to around 60 degrees on the asphalt at the 2.933-kilometer high-speed circuit around the Anhembi Sambadrome, the 37-year-old driver from the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team kept a cool head and took the checkered flag to claim a brilliant victory in the fourth race of the season.
Mitch Evans (NZL/Jaguar TCS Racing) and Oliver Rowland (GBR/Nissan Formula E Team) followed him in second and third positions. Tens of thousands of passionate fans in the stands turned this Formula E event in South America into a colorful samba spectacular, cheering wildly as the 22 drivers produced some superb racing action with countless overtaking maneuvers and duels on the track.
The Hankook iON Race also delivered yet another convincing performance. The official tire of the Formula E World Championship developed a very high level of grip in the extreme asphalt temperatures, ensuring that the drivers were certain that they could take their maneuvers to the very limit.
Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director said “We are delighted with another outstanding performance from the Hankook iON Race in Formula E. The extreme heat at track level was like placing a heated blanket on our tires, bringing it even more quickly into the perfect working window and generating plenty of grips. The drivers benefited from this in qualifying and during the race. The atmosphere around the circuit was unparalleled - a real celebration for Hankook and for Formula E.”
Race Tire Development Engineer Mike Choi said “Our tires performed excellently once again. They had to deal with a range of track surfaces with different levels of grip, scattered around the track. Whether they were running on concrete, asphalt, or freshly coated asphalt, the Hankook iON Race was as reliable as expected and delivered another great performance in the heat of Brazil.”
High-ranking visitor for the official technical partner and tire provider for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Alex Inho Choi, President of Hankook Tire Latin America, traveled to the race in Brazil. In addition to a guided tour of the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team pit, Choi also enjoyed seeing qualifying and the fourth race of the season live at the circuit. “I am delighted to watch the race live here in Brazil. The atmosphere is fantastic. I love it, seeing those superb fans. The Hankook iON Race supports the drivers on track with its excellent performance and reliability,” said Choi in São Paulo.
There was plenty of interest in the topic of Formula E tires. Hankook had invited international journalists to join a “Meet the Hankook Team” event to chat about the Hankook iON Race on the occasion of the São Paulo E-Prix. Hankook Motorsport Director Manfred Sandbichler and Race Tire Development Engineer Mike Choi were joined by a special guest, Swiss driver Nico Müller from the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team, to talk about the strengths of the standard tire for Formula E. Müller revealed that he is particularly impressed by the high level of performance and reliability provided by the Hankook iON Race and that he also chooses Hankook tires away from the track.
Great news from the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Starting this season, the series will award a world championship title to the most successful manufacturer, not just the victorious drivers and teams. This trophy, which will be presented for the first time at the official prize-giving ceremony following the season finale, the Hankook London E-Prix 2024, represents a fresh competitive element within the championship. Additionally, the victor will receive a Winner’s Badge to be displayed on helmets, cars, and team apparel in the subsequent season. Formula E features six manufacturers powering 11 teams, one of the most impressive and most competitive manufacturer line-ups in motor racing.
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E stated “We are thrilled to unveil the Manufacturers' Trophy for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This has been a long time in the making and marks a real milestone in the evolution of the Championship, as it captures the competitive spirit that fuels Formula E.”
Since Season 9, Hankook has also officially presented the Formula E program FIA Girls on Track. And it has proved to be a great success: Last year saw a 140% increase in the number of participants. Formula E and official technical partner and series tire provider Hankook thereby reaffirm their commitment to education and gender inclusivity in motorsport. This year, the fully-electric series is increasing the number of FIA Girls on Track from five events to all races, with an expected number of participants totaling more than 2,500 by the end of the season.
The NXT Gen Cup will be featuring on the E-Prix schedule at races in Europe. The world’s first fully electric junior touring car series will see male and female drivers between the ages of 15 and 25, all competing in identical Mini Cooper SEs. Hankook race tires will provide the drivers with all the grip they need. This year, the one-make cup will appear at the four European Formula E race events in Misano, Monaco, Berlin, and the season finale, the Hankook London E-Prix.