Hankook’s iON Race Sets a Strong Foundation for Season 12 in São Paulo

Hankook’s iON Race Delivers Consistent Performance on São Paulo’s Demanding Circuit
- Hankook’s race-proven iON Race delivered consistent performance throughout São Paulo’s technical circuit
- Jake Dennis of Andretti Formula E opens Season 12 with a decisive victory.
- São Paulo insights will support continued refinement of Hankook’s iON EV tire lineup.

Seoul, Korea, December 9, 2025 — Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (hereafter Formula E) wrapped up its opening round in São Paulo, where Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook) — the championship’s exclusive tire partner— supported the grid’s return to the high-speed Anhembi Sambadrome. The iconic venue, traditionally known for its carnival festivities, once again transformed into a fast and technical street circuit for the opening round.

Jake Dennis opened Formula E Season 12 with a dramatic victory for Andretti Formula E, taking the win after a late red flag and becoming the first front-row winner at the Anhembi Sambadrome Circuit.

The 2.933-kilometer, 11-turn course demanded constant adaptation. Long acceleration zones fed into rapid direction changes, with the decisive mid-lap hairpin repeatedly reshaping the race rhythm. Typical early-summer temperatures and humidity shifts added complexity, steadily influencing grip levels and thermal behavior over the race distance.

Throughout the race, Hankook supplied all teams with its race-proven iON Race, giving drivers a stable platform to balance outright pace with energy and heat management. The tire’s consistent warm-up behavior and confident grip enabled drivers to navigate both high-speed straights and the slower, more technical sectors with confidence. As grip levels evolved throughout the event, the iON Race continued to deliver a steady footprint and effective thermal control, allowing teams to handle their stints without compromising balance or recovery.

“Today’s race in São Paulo gave us a strong sense of how exciting this season will be,” said Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director of Hankook Motorsport. “With conditions changing throughout the day, the iON Race delivered the consistency teams needed to run their strategies with confidence. Based on what we saw here, we anticipate a strong season ahead — both in racing and tire performance.”

Insights gathered from São Paulo will continue to shape Hankook’s broader iON EV tire development, particularly in areas such as temperature stability, rolling resistance, and footprint behavior — characteristics shaped directly by the demands of all-electric street racing.

The championship now moves on to the 2026 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on 10 January, where the altitude and unique characteristics of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will set the stage for Round 2.