The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) kicked off with the Rallye Monte-Carlo on January 22-25, with exclusive rally tire partner Hankook supplying two tires for the 17-stage event contested across Monaco and France.
Hankook, which signed a three-year agreement in 2025 to be the exclusive rally tire supplier for all WRC classes, developed the FIA-certified tires in close collaboration with manufacturers, with the tires engineered to meet the championship’s demanding technical standards.
This year was the 94th edition of the Rallye Monte-Carlo, which is widely regarded as one of the most unpredictable events on the WRC calendar. Set against the Alpine backdrop, the rally features constantly changing surfaces, including tarmac, mud, snow and ice. Comprising 17 special stages and a distance of 339km, the event puts both driver skill and tire performance to the test.
For the WRC 2026 season opener, Hankook supplied tarmac and snow rally tires that incorporate its latest motorsport technology: the Ventus Z215 tarmac rally tire, which delivers precise handling and strong cornering stability on dry surfaces; and the Winter i cept SR20, which delivers traction and balanced performance on snow and ice.
Related news, Nova Motorsport appointed official tire partner for Caterham Motorsport
