HANKOOK CONTROL TYRE FOR ARDC AUS PRODUCTION CAR ENDURANCE SERIES

MEDIA RELEASE/ARDC – Photos: supplied

Hankook Tyre Australia has been confirmed as the Official Control Tyre supplier for the ARDC Australian Production Car Endurance Series (APCES), under a new multi-year agreement with the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC).

The partnership will see Hankook’s Z221 R-Spec tyre supplied to competitors across the four-round national endurance series, with Gary’s Motorsport Tyres appointed as the official trackside supplier.

The agreement marks a significant step in the launch of the APCES, which begins with the Sydney 4 Hour at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 30–31, headlining Round 3 of The Nationals and NSW Motor Race Championship.

The Hankook deal builds on the brand’s established presence in Australian endurance racing, including its long-term involvement as control tyre supplier for the Bathurst 6 Hour.

“We are immensely proud to join with the ARDC to support its inaugural Australian Production Car Endurance Series as the official tyre supplier,” said Hankook Tyre Australia Managing Director June Cho.

“Endurance racing in particular is very important to Hankook, as seen by our long-term support for the Bathurst 6 Hour. We are excited to bring our advanced Hankook Z221 R-Spec tyres to Sydney Motorsport Park in May, and across the rest of the series. We look forward to supporting a diverse field of competitors and contributing to another memorable season of production car racing.”

The APCES will feature a broad range of production-based machinery competing across eight classes (X, A1, A2, B1, B2, C, D and E), ensuring competitive parity across a diverse field.

ARDC CEO Glenn Matthews said the partnership with Hankook was a key foundation for the new series. “Production car racing has always held a special place in Australian motorsport, and bringing this category under the ARDC banner allows us to honour that heritage while building its future,” Matthews said.

“The new four-round endurance series strengthens our national presence, supports our strategy to secure marquee events, and reinforces our commitment to delivering exciting, memorable racing for fans, teams and competitors alike. We’ve been extremely encouraged by the level of competitor interest, and having Hankook on board as the Official Control Tyre is a major boost for the category. We are delighted to welcome their support for 2026/27 and beyond.”

Announced in December 2025, the ARDC Australian Production Car Endurance Series will run across four rounds, starting at Sydney Motorsport Park before visiting Sandown International Raceway and Queensland Raceway, culminating at the Bathurst 6 Hour in 2027 where the series winner will be crowned.

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