Hankook Team Places Close Second in Redline Time Attack

In the release below and attached, Hankook Tire America as proud to
announce the recent success of their Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA race
team at the inaugural round of the 2007 Redline Time Attack at
California Speedway.  Driver Tyler McQuarrie led the team to a second
place finish only .27 seconds behind a world-class, purpose-built
Porsche.
 
Please see the release for full details and feel free to contact us with
any questions.
 
 
 

For Immediate Release

 

Hankook Tires/JIC USA Race Team Climbs the Podium at Inaugural 2007
Redline Time Attack Event

 

Hankook-Sponsored Drift Team Grabs Second-Place with Its Nissan Silvia,
Barely Conceding Unlimited Class Victory to World Class Porsche Effort 

 


WAYNE, NJ (February 12, 2007) - Hankook Tire America Corp., manufacturer
of high-performance passenger car, sports car and racing tires, left
little doubt its Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA race team is a championship
contender at the inaugural round of the highly competitive 2007 Redline
Time Attack Series at California Speedway.


 


The Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA Nissan S15 Silvia, driven by veteran
drift racer Tyler McQuarrie, finished just .27 seconds behind the
purpose-built GT3 Porsche of GMG Racing in the event's Unlimited Class. 


 


"We were more than pleased with our final standings, given the fact that
the S15 was built for drifting and we came in as close as we did to a
purpose-built factory race car," McQuarrie said. "It kind of felt like a
David versus Goliath situation , but we're happy with the outcome. It
was a great team effort."


 


McQuarrie set the pace in the morning practice rounds, which were run in
less-than-optimal overcast and rainy conditions on the 13-turn, 1.6-mile
track. When the Hankook-shod Nissan's impressive practice times were
posted, the GMG Porsche team fit its car with carbon fiber wheels to
give it an added edge. By the time the competition sessions were run,
cold and windy conditions prevailed, but McQuarrie kept the Hankook
Tires/JIC Magic USA Nissan right on the heels of the competition,
narrowly missing his first victory of the year. 


 


"What a great start to our 2007 season," said Bill Bainbridge, Marketing
Director for Hankook Tire America Corp. "Tyler McQuarrie did a masterful
job to keep us in the hunt, turning in a stellar performance against
some insurmountable odds. Finishing so close to that GT3 Porsche is no
small accomplishment. Now we're all looking forward to a rematch."

 

 Driver Background

Tyler McQuarrie of Walnut Creek, Calif. is back behind the wheel of the
JIC Magic USA/Hankook Tires race cars in 2007. Tyler has eight years
experience as a driving instructor at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
during which time he's coached a number of top NASCAR drivers in the art
of road racing. Winner of the USAC/Formula Russell Championship and the
USAC/Triple Crown Pro Series title, Tyler is only the third American to
win the prestigious World Scholarship in England. Before joining JIC
USA, he competed in USF2000, the NASCAR Southwest Tour and the American
LeMans Series. 


 


About Hankook Tire America Corp.

Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. is a
technology-focused, market-driven company that supports motorsports
enthusiasts and racers at all levels. Hankook is known and respected
around the world for its superior competition tires that outlast the
toughest opposition. Hankook remains at the forefront of performance
tire development to achieve cutting-edge results. As Hankook expands its
motorsports activities, the focus will remain on technology that will
keep Hankook-equipped vehicles in the winners circle. Hankook is one of
the largest tire manufacturers in the world, manufacturing a wide range
of tires for almost any vehicle. For more information please visit
Hankook Tires on the web at www.hankooktireusa.com
<http://www.hankooktireusa.com/> .

 

About JIC USA /Ziel Motorsports

JIC USA was known in Japan as Ziel Motorsports, where it competed in
high-profile racing series including the All Japan Grand Touring Series,
N1 Endurance races, LeMans races and the BPR International Endurance
Championships. In 1997, Ziel Motorsports made its way stateside,
competing in prestigious events like the Daytona 24 Hours and the
American LeMans Series. In 1999, Ziel Motorsports teamed with JIC Magic,
a highly respected Japanese tuner to further strengthen the U.S.
motorsports industry. Currently headquartered in Downey, California, and
competing in a wide range of racing series, JIC USA /Ziel Motorsports
fields a fleet of racing vehicles for all types of motorsports from drag
racing to drifting and time attacks.

 

#   #   #

    

              Hankook Tire America Corp Media Contacts: 

        Bill Bainbridge                                     Kim Milman
Tyler Horton

      Director Brand Communication        Account Director
Account Executive

            

ph    Phone: 973- 633-9000 ext. 531                     Phone :
818-992-4353                    Phone : 818-992-43530

          

         Fax:       973-  633-0028                                 Fax
:818-992-0543                         Fax : 818-992-0543

           wbainbridge@hankooktireusa.com
      
kmilman@jmprpublicrelations.com 
thorton@jmprpublicrelations.com 


 

 

 
Tyler Horton
Account Executive
Phone: 818 992-4353
Fax: 818 992-0543
www.jmprpublicrelations.com <http://www.jmprpublicrelations.com/>