Carrera 80: Hankook Named Official Tyre Supplier Under 2025 Regulations

Race Ready and Hankook, through its distributor RTI, have reached an agreement for the South Korean brand to become the official tyre supplier for the Carrera 80 series, starting this season. This partnership paves the way for the use of slick tyres in a competition that celebrates Touring and GT cars from 1976 to 1994.

Following a careful analysis and evaluation of proposals from various interested manufacturers, Race Ready made a considered decision to move forward with Hankook. The choice was guided by tyre acquisition costs and durability, staying true to the spirit of the era, when slick tyres were already a mainstay in speed competitions.

At the same time, Race Ready responded to the requests of many drivers, for whom the use of slick tyres in these vehicles is an added incentive to participate.

To help manage costs, each set of Hankook tyres is expected to last for two race weekends. To ensure performance parity among teams, a mandatory pit stop lasting a minimum of 115 seconds will be introduced—longer than the 60 seconds required with semi-slick tyres.

Despite the new partnership, Carrera 80 will continue to allow the use of Toyo semi-slick tyres, with no competitive disadvantage for drivers and teams choosing that option. The organisers are also open to finding suitable solutions for different vehicle types and wheel sizes.

“Many of these cars clearly competed on slick tyres in their day,” says Diogo Ferrão, CEO of Race Ready. “However, one of our main concerns has always been the cost and durability of these tyres, which can significantly increase the financial burden on teams. We sought sustainable solutions, but there’s no standardised approach internationally, with each organisation adopting different methodologies. After nearly two years of study, negotiations, and testing—particularly during the final race of the 2024 season—we’ve reached a consensus that we believe represents an important step forward for the future of the competition.”

The 2025 edition of Carrera 80 kicks off over the weekend of 31 May–1 June, as part of the Jarama Classic programme, featuring two races that promise excitement and grids packed with iconic machines from a golden era of motorsport.

The series will also make a stop at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia this September, as part of the Iberian Racing Festival, held at one of the most modern and well-equipped circuits in Southern Europe.

As is tradition, the season will conclude with two events on Portuguese soil: one at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in October, during the revitalised Algarve Classic Festival, and another at the Autódromo do Estoril in November, as part of the third edition of the Estoril Endurance Festival.