Hankook Tire proves its technology on Greece's brutal rally roads at WRC Round 8

Hankook Tire & Technology said the Greece Acropolis Rally — Round 8 of the FIA's 2026 World Rally Championship — concluded successfully Sunday in and around Loutraki, Greece.

Known as the "Rally of the Gods," the Greece Acropolis Rally ranks among the most punishing events on the WRC calendar. Temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius, road-surface temperatures exceed 50 degrees, and competitors navigate unpaved tracks strewn with sharp rocks. Because each stage is driven twice, surface conditions deteriorate rapidly, making tire durability and consistent performance critical factors.

Hankook Tire supplied its Dynapro R213 extreme all-weather rally tire for the event. The company offered two EMC variants — hard and soft — to help teams manage the rocky terrain and the changing surface conditions caused by repeated runs over the same stages.

Sébastien Ogier of the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team came from behind to take victory. Thierry Neuville of the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team finished second, and Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta placed third.

The WRC moves to Tartu, Estonia, for Round 9 — the Estonia Rally — from July 16 to 19. The course features high-speed gravel forest roads where average speeds exceed 120 kilometers per hour, along with a series of large jumps, promising another fiercely contested event.

Hankook Tire is the exclusive supplier of racing tires across all WRC classes. The company uses data gathered under extreme driving conditions to advance its high-performance tire research and development, strengthening its competitive edge in the global premium tire market.

Hankook Tire & Technology is South Korea's first tire-dedicated company. It sells tires in more than 160 countries through four global regional headquarters, more than 30 overseas branches, eight production facilities and five R&D centers.