KUMHO APPOINTED EXCLUSIVE TYRE SUPPLIER FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY ELECTRIC RACING CAR OF INMOTION
06/05/2017
KUMHO APPOINTED EXCLUSIVE TYRE SUPPLIER FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY ELECTRIC RACING CAR OF INMOTION
Launch - Zandvoort circuit electric record attempt
Intermediate goal - outright Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit record
Ultimate goal - compete in Garage 56 class of Le Mans 24 Hours
Offenbach, Germany – 18.05.2017. What may presently be the world’s fastest fully-electric racing car will shortly make its debut at Zandvoort motorsport circuit in Holland, with Kumho tyres. During the track’s annual Pinksterraces (June 3 & 4), the young Dutch racing team InMotion, that primarily comprises students from Eindhoven University of Technology and Fontys University of Applied Sciences, will attempt to break the circuit’s existing electric car record of 2:04.52 minutes. The IM/e of InMotion will be presented for the first time to the general public at the family days at the Zandvoort Circuit Park from the 19th to the 21st of May. Here it is in a prominent society, as the main attraction of the days will be none other than the Dutch F1 sensation Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Grand Prix car.
Based on their previous Bio-ethanol racecar, the Formula Bio, InMotion’s IM/e features a powertrain consisting of a pair of high power electric motors that generate a whopping 550 bhp that is supported by a 200 kg battery pack giving the car a total weight of 650 kg. Of higher specification than a Formula E single-seater, the car will sprint from 0-100 kph within 3 seconds and reach speeds of up to 280kph. However, this is only stage one for the young entrepreneurs, as it will serve as a test-bed for their forthcoming IM01 - an 1100-plus horsepower hybrid sports racing car with which they hope to break Stefan Bellof’s outright record of 6:11.13 minutes for the 20.8 km Nürburgring Nordschleife, before competing in the Garage 56 class of the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour race – the class reserved for vehicles of technical innovation. This spectacular racing car of the future is intended to outperform a current F1 car while consuming less than half the amount of fuel.
Speaking of InMotion’s association with Kumho, Dirk Rockendorf, Marketing Director of Kumho Europe said: “We are very happy about the partnership with this young team, where it is clear innovations are dared and visions realised. These highly motivated Dutchmen are set on demonstrating that electric drive and motorsport can be a perfect match and we are proud to be supporting their plans.”
About Kumho
Founded in 1960, the Kumho Tire Company based in Seoul, South Korea is currently one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers with revenues in excess of two billion Euro. Each year, the company sells over 60 million tyres worldwide. The company is part of the long-established Kumho Asiana Group, one of Korea’s best known and largest companies, which also owns Asiana Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance. With over 11,000 employees worldwide, Kumho develops, manufactures and markets tyres primarily for passenger cars, vans and trucks. Kumho operates production facilities in Korea, China and Vietnam. The company also maintains research and development centres in Korea, China, Europe and North America. Kumho is an original equipment supplier to car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mini or the Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia. Since years Kumho has been active in football sponsoring in main European ligues. Currently, Kumho is official tyre partner of the English Premier League member Tottenham Hotspur as well as FC Schalke 04, Hamburger SV and Hertha BSC of German Bundesliga and the French Ligue 1 team Olympique Lyon.