HELM MOTORSPORTS wins Super Taikyu Series 2022 Powered by Hankook Round 2

- HELM MOTORSPORTS won the second round of Super Taikyu Series 2022 Powered by Hankook
- NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hour Race was held at Fuji Speedway in the largest scale with 56 cars
- Hankook Tire takes part as exclusive tire supplier and official sponsor of Asia’s largest endurance race

Seoul, Korea, June 10, 2022 – The ENEOS Super Taikyu Series powered by Hankook Round 2, NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hour Race, ended on June 5 with a commanding victory for HELM MOTORSPORTS.

NAPAC Fuji Super TEC 24 Hour Race takes place within the framework of the Super Taikyu Series as the crown jewel event since its revival in 2018. This year, the race saw 56 cars from nine classes lined up at the Fuji Speedway circuit, marking the largest grid assembled for the series. It’s also Japan’s only 24-hour endurance race.

The race started at 15:00 local time on June 4. As the fastest car in qualifying, pole-sitters Grid Motorsport AMG GT3 (#888) were able to defend their lead at the start. Their fiercest rival in the opening stage of the race was the DAISHIN GT3 GT-R (#81) that made a pit stop just before the Full-course Yellow (FCY). During the lap 280, the HELM MOTORSPORTS GTR GT3 (#62) received a penalty pit stop of 180 seconds when they’d fallen afoul of the three-hour stint time limit for a driver.

By the time the sun had come out over Fuji Speedway at 4:29 AM local time, Grid Motorsport AMG GT3 (#888) was forced to make an emergency pit stop to repair a damaged right-front fender after a quarter-spin into the guardrail. This put the DAISHIN GT3 GT-R (#81) in the lead. However, with three hours and 30 minutes left in the race, the DAISHIN GT3 GT-R (#81) was taken for emergency service after its engine would not fire. Then the HELM MOTORSPORTS GTR GT3 (#62) that was chasing in second place moved up to the top, and eventually the Grid Motorsport AMG GT3 (#888) recovered second place.

The victory was confirmed when Yuya Hiraki took the chequered flag setting a 1’31.807 aboard the HELM MOTORSPORTS GTR GT3 (#62) after 760 laps of racing (around 3,467.8km). This was a first overall and ST-X victory in the Super Taikyu Series powered by Hankook for the HELM MOTORSPORTS GTR GT3 (#62). Taking the chequered flag, Yuya Hiraki said, “The final moments that lead to HELM MOTORSPORTS’s victory still seems surreal. The 24-hour endurance race was full of exciting drama from start to finish.”

The HELM MOTORSPORTS was established by the Hiraki brothers, Yuya and Reiji Hiraki, in February 2020 as a community team to represent their native Ibaraki Prefecture. The HELM MOTORSPORTS team also plans to race in the FIA Formula 4.

The Super Taikyu Series, launched in Japan in 1991, is now the largest Endurance Grand Touring (GT) Series in Asia. It offers extra enjoyment for spectators and fans by allowing not only race cars but also production cars that are modified into racing cars to enter the race.

Hankook has been taking part as a title sponsor and an exclusive tire supplier of the Super Taikyu Series since the last season. Hankook supplies two sets of its race tires to all participants that offer optimal support with impressive performance. As a dry tire and a high-tech slick tire, the Ventus F200 offers optimized driving performance including excellent durability and grip. For wet surface use, the Ventus Z207 effectively prevents hydroplaning for steering stability and maximized drainage performance.

Continuing from the Fuji Speedway, the season continues until November 27. Six more rounds are to be hosted in different circuits such as Sportsland SUGO, Autopolis, Mobility Resort MOTEGI and Okayama International Circuit.

“Hankook Tire is currently supplying racing tires to over 70 global motorsports competitions or teams around the world”, says Hak Kim, Managing Director of Hankook Tire Japan Corp. “We believe that our dedication to nurturing global motorsports culture well shines through the sponsorship of the exciting Super Taikyu Series.”

Super Taikyu 2022 Powered by Hankook Calendar (local time)