The premium tire manufacturer is now more committed to social media and opening up new opportunities for interaction with end consumers.

While the focus of the company’s homepage will remain on general company, tire technology and service information, the new microsite is dedicated specifically to Hankook’s motorsport activities and engagements.

Alongside extensive reports and information on the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), Le Mans, VLN, Super GT, Formula D, Time Attack Series and CRC (China Rally Championship), motorsport fans will also find images and videos as well as wallpaper with various racing images for download.

The microsite that is titled “Hankook Competition” can be reached on URL www.hankooktiremotorsports.com or by using the “Motorsport” button on the tire manufacturer’s homepage.

On the company’s official YouTube online portal http://www.youtube.com/user/HankookEUHQ, videos with information on the company as well as films and short documentaries about the various racing series sponsored by Hankook are available.

Furthermore, the Hankook YouTube page offers fans the opportunity to contact the tire manufacturer and other motorsport enthusiasts directly as all videos can be commented publicly.

Through the “favorite” function on the portal, users also have the option to register for daily e-mail updates.

“We have significantly expanded our motorsport engagement in 2011. Since the beginning of the year, we are the exclusive tire provider to the DTM and have successfully completed the first couple of races. We at Hankook want to share these experiences with our fans and give them the opportunity to be a part of it,” explains He-See Ahn, vice president marketing & sales at Hankook Tire Europe.

“The YouTube channel and our new microsite open up new opportunities to get in touch with our customers. We feel this is a great opportunity for us and we plan to make more use of it moving forward,” he added.

According to the Hankook US site, Hankook Tire remains at the forefront of cutting-edge track & race tire development by combining state-of-the-art computational designs with the latest materials, all of which are produced in our highly sophisticated tire manufacturing methods & plants. Hankook Tire strives, everyday, to be recognized around the globe as one of the best tire manufacturers in the world.

Hankook’s racing tires first were produced and introduced in the US in 2003, with the introduction of the Ventus RSS Z211 R-Compound racing tire. From then on, the Hankook Ventus RSS Z211 has set a strong standard, stateside. Since this introduction, Hankook Tire’s involvement and investment in motorsports has steadily increased, bringing with this investment podium placing and first place wins. The track records prove it.