All roads lead to Rome: Hankook and Formula E travel to Italy for a double-header

- The double-header ABB FIA Formula E heads to Rome, welcoming the fully electric series for the fifth time
- Hankook, supports the drivers at the technically demanding circuit, with all components Hankook iON Race has mastered in Season 9
- Jake Dennis stands as the overall leader with 154 points, followed by Nick Cassidy and Pascal Wehrlein

Seoul, Korea, July 11, 2023 – The “Eternal City” hosts the penultimate round of this season’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the 14th to the 16th of July. It is crunch time in the title race at the Hankook Rome E-Prix, which takes place to the south of the city with a population of 2.8 million. Just 16 points separate the top three drivers. Mathematically, a remarkable 12 racers can still dream of winning the title. Rome has been featured on the Formula E calendar since 2018 and welcomes the fully-electric series for the fifth time. Two years ago, the layout was adapted to make the race distance longer. The double-header takes place at the 3.380 kilometers Circuito Cittadino dell´EUR, in the EUR district of the city (Esposizione Universale di Roma). As at the season-opener in Mexico City, Hankook is also the title sponsor in Rome and at the grand finale in London, where the new world champion will be crowned. At both race weekends, the drivers again start on the Hankook iON Race with tread grooves in the colorful Hankook Orange and iON Blue.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director states that “The street circuit in Rome will be a real test for our premium product, the Hankook iON Race, as supports the drivers with the best possible grip and high performance. As well as the heat, with temperatures anticipated to be well above 30 degrees in Celsius, the technically demanding circuit also has very bumpy asphalt, big changes in elevation, and many 90-degree corners. These are all components that the Hankook iON Race has already successfully mastered in Season 9. The track is bordered by walls in places and does not forgive any mistakes from the drivers.”

Britain’s Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) is the new overall leader on 154 points, having finished runner-up and claimed three bonus points for pole position in Portland. Dennis travels to the Italian capital with a slender one-point lead over New Zealander Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing), who was victorious in the USA. Germany’s Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) is third with 138 points.

The circuit is technically very demanding. A total of 19 corners are distributed across the 3.380 kilometers track. The 22 drivers must negotiate eight right-hand bends and eleven left-handers. The lack of run-off zones, walls lining the circuit, and a very bumpy surface pose a real challenge to the drivers. The many 90-degree corners make overtaking extremely difficult at Circuito Cittadino dell´EUR.
The Rookie Free Practice starts on 14:30 until 15:00 on Friday, July 14, and the first free practice session at 17:00 – 17:30 on the same day. The second free practice session takes place from 08:10 – 08:40 the next day on July 15, followed by a qualifying session from 10:40 – 11:55. Race 13 will be starting at 15:04, July 15. Another round of a free practice session will be taking place at 08:10 – 08:40 on Sunday, July 16. This will then be followed by a qualifying session at 10:40 – 11:55 the same day, and Race 14 starting at 15:04, July 16.

The 22 drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship were in a particularly aggressive mood in Portland. The fans were treated to no fewer than 403 overtaking manoeuvres on the Hankook iON Race tire over the course of the one-hour race in the USA. Mitch Evans from the Jaguar TCS Racing team was named “Driver of Progress” in Portland. The New Zealander started from 20th on the grid, climbed 16 places in the race, and eventually just missed out on the podium in fourth place.

Briton Jake Dennis enjoyed a great event in Portland on the Hankook iON Race: championship leader after finishing runner-up in the race, the fourth pole position of his Formula E career, a third appearance in a row in the final qualifying duel, and a new record. In the semi-final of qualifying, he set the fastest lap ever recorded in Formula E, clocking an average speed of 166.63 km/h.

Eight out of nine – consistency to rival that of the Hankook iON Race. German Maximilian Günther made it through to the head-to-head phase of qualifying for the eighth time in the last nine races in Portland – a feat nobody else has ever achieved.

Thrilling battles and many overtakes at the sold-out Portland International Raceway in the northwest of the USA made for plenty of drama in race twelve of this season’s Formula E. Nick Cassidy claimed his third win of the season on the Hankook iON Race tire. You can find the brightest, most exciting, and most impressive scenes from Portland here in the Hankook Highlight Clip.

As well as on YouTube, you can also find regular news and information on Hankook’s involvement in Formula E on Twitter (@hankook_sport) and Instagram (@hankooktire.motorsports).

You can find the latest Hankook Press Kit for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, looking ahead to the coming race in Rome here.