Hankook Tire-sponsored car team wins Formula Drift race

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Hankook Tire Co., South Korea's top tire maker, said Tuesday that the racing team it sponsors won the sixth race of the 2011 Formula Drift series held in Las Vegas, demonstrating the high quality of its tires.
The racing team secured the top place finish on the "Red Bull" driven by Rhys Millen, Hankook Tire said.
The car used was a Genesis Coupe made by Hyundai Motor Co., and it used Hankook's Ventus R-s3 tires for the extreme racing event, the company said.
Hankook added the victory marks the second time that a car it sponsored won a premier "drifting car race" in the United States.
A drifting race refers to a driving technique that requires drivers to intentionally over steer their cars, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, although the drivers must maintain vehicle control at all times. This kind of race puts enormous stress on tires.
"The second win in the Formula Drift highlights the excellent quality of the Ventus R-s3 tires that can help fuel sales in the future," Hankook said in a statement.
It added that the company plans to further support motor races to build up its global brand image.