RACING BUSINESS (WAYNE, NJ) - HANKOOK TIRE/CORSA MOTORSPORTS SIGN SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT
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ALMS is the premier road racing competition in North America. The sponsorship within the series will be a showcase for Hankook performance tire technology. It is the logical next step in the marketing and brand-building efforts to position Hankook as a market-driven technology-focused global brand.
"For Hankook, this is about showcasing our technology on the premier stage of road racing," said Bill Bainbridge, Director of Brand Communication for Hankook Tire America Corp. "We are as devoted to winning on race day as Corsa Motorsports."
"Our agreement with Hankook puts us back in the game with a partner who is fully committed to putting the most competitive car out there," said Steve Pruitt, Team Principal, Corsa Motorsports. "We have some of the most technologically advanced cars on the track; we want to transfer that technology to the asphalt to put us in the best position to make it to Le Mans."
The No. 48 Corsa Motorsports Ferrari F430 LMGT will begin the 2008 campaign in the GT2 class for the 2008 ALMS season with Hankook Tires on March 15 at the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Fla.
"Hankook has been a wonderful partner in our IMSA Lites category and not only will they continue in that role but we welcome them with open arms as they step up into the American Le Mans Series ultra competitive GT2 Class," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of ALMS. "There's no more relevant motorsports test for manufacturers - and that certainly goes for tire manufacturers - then developing and proving the technology, quality and durability than in the GT categories of the ALMS. I want to congratulate and thank Hankook for their great past investment and especially for this new initiative in our series."
In a survey done by Road & Track Magazine, 88 percent of respondents felt auto manufacturers that participate in the ALMS produce vehicles and products with engineering that is superior to that of non-participating auto manufacturers.
About Hankook Tire America Corp.
Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. is a technology-focused, market-driven company that markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck, SUV tires, as well as medium truck and bus tires to more than 400 independent dealers through 3000+ retail sales locations in the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit Hankook Tire's web site at: www.hankooktireusa.com.
About Corsa Motorsports
Corsa Motorsports was founded in 2005. The Utah-based professional sports car racing team maintains its headquarters at Miller Motorsports Park. It constructed the first Ferrari F430 to compete in the GT class of the Grand AM Rolex Series and campaigns an F430 LMGT in the American Le Mans Series.
About the American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series draws on the heritage of long- distance "endurance" sports car racing in both Europe and the United States as exemplified by the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 10- race domestic series includes the 12 Hours of Sebring - a U.S. fixture since 1952 - plus events at the country's premier road circuits, including Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Laguna Seca, Lime Rock Park and Road Atlanta.