Hankook tires survived the brutal test of the Safari Rally and proved they are different
Kenya’s safari gatherings are not your average match. It is dust, mud, rock and rut. If it rains, it is pure chaos. That’s exactly what makes it legendary.
So when Hankook Tire served as the official WRC partner at 2025 Safari Rally, everyone’s eyes were focused on how their rubber stayed. Spoiler Alert: It not only holds, but also dominates.
From first time partner to podium performer
Hankook competed in this year’s safari rally and proved that. As the new official tire supplier for FIA Junior WRC, the brand must show that it can handle the punishment of the African landscape. The driver faced sharp rocks, thick dust, deep water crossings and unpredictable weather – all gathered. Through all this, Hankook’s tires provide grip, durability and control. This is an important statement for first-time suppliers.
Why is the safari gathering so cruel
Most games stick to the apron or groomed gravel. Not Kenya. Safari gatherings are known for chewing equipment and humble the best drivers. The route spans huge prairie and rocky highlands, with little warning before moving under the terrain. Temperature soared. The rain turns the dry track into mud pits.
This is a test of every part of the car and every part that the driver focuses on. Can tires survive here? They can survive almost anywhere.
The real performance is not just laboratory tests
Hankook is unique in that these results are not theoretical. Their Rally2 tires face the extremes of the real world and are delivered in bright colors. They catch when they are dry. When wet, they grabbed the mud. They help junior drivers stay competitive in one of the world’s most punishing racing environments. This is not marketing fluff – it is data obtained in dirt.
What does this mean for everyday drivers
Now, you may not be traversing African bushes among daily drivers, but techniques performed under rally conditions often drip into daily tires. This means better grasping in the rain, stronger side walls of potholes, and more reliable performance in extreme high or cold conditions. This is part of the long game Hankook plays: Building trust through performance, in the most important case.
Look down at the trail
Hanku’s momentum made a strong debut behind them. Their role in Junior WRC provides them with a verification basis for perfecting the performance of all types of drivers.
If they can thrive in Kenya, they will be at the boundaries in every corner of the WRC calendar. Expect to hear more about Hankook – not only racing headlines, but also on highways and back roads where performance is still important.
