Hankook Ready to Tackle the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship’s FORUM8 Rally Japan

- Round 13 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) blasts into Japan from November 6 to 9, with stages spanning the Aichi and Gifu prefectures
- Hankook’s Ventus tires take on Japan’s tight, twisting mountain roads and shifting weather, engineered to deliver unwavering grip and control
- With only the season-ending Saudi Arabia Rally left on the calendar, the fight for Drivers’ Championship reaches a fever pitch in Japan

Seoul, Korea, November 5, 2025 — Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook), a leading global tire company under Hankook & Company Group, heads to Japan for Round 13 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) as the championship’s exclusive tire partner. The FORUM8 Rally Japan will run from November 6 to 9 through the demanding tarmac stages of Japan’s Aichi and Gifu prefectures.

Based in Toyota City, home to the global headquarters of Toyota, the FORUM8 Rally Japan is a tarmac event that winds through steep mountain asphalt stages. The route is flanked by dense forests, where sunlight and humidity shift constantly, while fallen leaves and moisture make surface conditions difficult to predict. With most sections composed of tight, technical corners, the rally rewards stability and precision over outright speed.

Local weather conditions add another layer of challenge. Fog and sudden downpours often reduce visibility and transform the road surface in seconds. In these moments, tire grip, handling balance, and water-evacuation performance become decisive factors that can ultimately determine the outcome of the rally.

Hankook will supply its Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tires for the event. The Ventus Z215 is optimized for dry surfaces, while the Z210 is tuned for wet conditions, both delivering outstanding cornering and handling performance. Both models are engineered to maintain reliable grip through high-speed sections and continuous cornering, allowing drivers to control their cars with precision and stability across Japan’s unpredictable mountain terrain.

Kalle Rovanperä’s triumph at the Central European Rally sealed the ninth Manufacturers’ Championship crown for Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team. With just 13 points separating the top three drivers, the fight for the Drivers’ Championship is reaching boiling point.

Elfyn Evans of Toyota GAZOO Racing holds the advantage at the top of the standings with 247 points, ahead of teammates Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä, who are level on 234 points apiece. As Toyota’s home event, Rally Japan is poised to draw strong fan interest as the championship battle reaches its climax.

Hankook has built a strong premium-brand presence in Japan — a market that prizes quality above all — supported by its top-tier technology and rigorous quality management systems. By meeting the exacting technical requirements of leading Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, Hankook continues to expand its supply of original-equipment tires for flagship models, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner within Japan’s automotive industry.