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Hankook's Proven Top-Tier Rally Tire Technology Underpins Rally Sweden's Safe Conclusion Across Relentless Snow and Ice

News Provided by PR Newswire2026-02-20

Hankook's Proven Top-Tier Rally Tire Technology Underpins Rally Sweden's Safe Conclusion Across Relentless Snow and Ice

[20-February-2026]

Round 2 Rally Sweden concluded in extreme winter conditions, with the entire route covered in snow and thick ice
Hankook's Winter i*Pike SR10W delivered consistent driving stability throughout the rally, even in severe icy conditions
Up next, 2026 WRC Round 3 to take place in Naivasha, Kenya from March 12 to 15

UMEÅ, Sweden, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter Hankook), a leading global tire manufacturer within the Hankook & Company Group (Chairman Hyunbum Cho) and the exclusive rally tire supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), has successfully concluded Round 2 of the 2026 WRC — Rally Sweden — on February 15 in the Umeå region of Sweden.

WRC 2026 Rally Sweden – Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team

First staged in 1950, Rally Sweden remains the only WRC event contested entirely on snow and ice. Crews tackled 18 special stages (SS) covering approximately 300 kilometers in total. With speeds reaching up to 200 km/h amid rapidly shifting temperatures, the rally placed a premium on precise car control, strong tire grip and handling, and dependable braking performance in punishing winter conditions, producing fierce competition across the field.

For Rally Sweden, Hankook supplied its Winter i*Pike SR10W, a dedicated competition tire equipped with specially designed ice-rally stud pins, supporting stable rally operations even in the most severe icy environments. Engineered specifically for snow and ice, the tire combines ice-rally studs with an asymmetric tread pattern to deliver outstanding grip, powerful braking, and composed high-speed stability on frozen surfaces.

After a tightly contested rally, Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin of Toyota GAZOO Racing secured victory by 14.3 seconds, winning Rally Sweden for the second consecutive year. Having also finished runner-up at the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo, the pair now lead the championship standings on 60 points.

The 2026 WRC now moves to Round 3 — Safari Rally Kenya — which will take place around Naivasha from March 12 to 15. Widely regarded as one of the most demanding off-road events on the WRC calendar, the rally features extreme heat, muddy surfaces caused by heavy rainfall, and rapidly changing weather conditions that test both crews and machinery to the limit.

Meanwhile, Hankook has continued to advance its high-performance rally tire technology through close collaboration with the FIA and leading global automotive manufacturers, conducting more than 2,000 kilometers of real-vehicle testing across eight countries worldwide. From the 2025 season onward, Hankook will exclusively supply racing tires to all WRC classes for three years, further strengthening the premium positioning of its global integrated brand "Hankook" and reinforcing its leadership in motorsport technology.