Hankook iON Race Meets the Challenge of Heat and Humidity in Formula E's Return to Sanya

- Jake Dennis of Andretti Formula E claimed victory in Round 11 at the Haitang Bay Circuit
- High temperatures, tropical humidity, and variable conditions placed teams under constant thermal management pressure
- Hankook's iON Race delivered reliable performance throughout one of the season's most demanding race weekends

Seoul, Korea, 23 June 2026 — Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter Hankook), the exclusive tyre supplier and official tyre partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, supplied its iON Race tyre to all teams as the series returned to the Hainan coastline for the 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix. Round 11 of the 2025/26 season marked Formula E’s first visit to Sanya since Season 5 in March 2019 and presented one of the most demanding operating environments of the championship.

Jake Dennis of Andretti Formula E claimed victory at the 2.52-kilometer Haitang Bay Circuit, with Felipe Drugovich finishing second and Pepe Marti completing the podium. The temporary 12-corner street circuit produced a closely contested race under high temperatures and elevated humidity.

Throughout the event, Hankook’s iON Race tyre delivered consistent performance under demanding thermal conditions. Air temperatures reached approximately 33°C during the race weekend, while high humidity further increased the demands placed on both drivers and machinery. Variable grip levels and evolving track conditions required teams to carefully balance energy management and tyre performance across the race distance.

The smooth street surface at Haitang Bay limited mechanical abrasion, placing greater emphasis on tyre warm-up, thermal stability, and consistency throughout each lap. Combined with the circuit’s low-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and long straights, the conditions placed sustained demands on tyre operating consistency and thermal management throughout the race.

“Extreme heat, high humidity, and the potential for changing weather conditions placed significant demands on teams throughout the weekend,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport. “Under these conditions, maintaining predictable tyre behavior and a stable operating window was particularly important. We were pleased to see the iON Race deliver consistent and reliable performance throughout the event, enabling teams to manage energy, strategy, and tyre performance with confidence.”

Following Round 11, Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E Team) leads the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Drivers’ standings on 128 points. The season continues with the Shanghai E-Prix double-header on 4–5 July, hosting Rounds 12 and 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.