A race scene from the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix, Round 12 of Formula E Season 12. [Hankook Tire & Technology]
A race scene from the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix, Round 12 of Formula E Season 12. [Hankook Tire & Technology]

Hankook Tire & Technology showcased its electric vehicle racing tire technology in Shanghai, China, with its official Formula E tire, the Ion Race, supporting race operations across conditions that alternated between high humidity, rain and dry pavement.

Hankook Tire & Technology announced Monday that Rounds 12 and 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Season 12 — the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix — concluded Saturday and Sunday at Shanghai International Circuit in China. The company serves as the exclusive electric vehicle racing tire supplier and official partner of the championship.

The Shanghai event was held as a doubleheader, with the two rounds set to shape the standings battle in the latter half of the season. The venue, Shanghai International Circuit, is one of China's premier motorsport facilities.

The circuit features a mix of long straights, sharp hairpins, and both low- and high-speed corners, placing a premium on overtaking strategy for drivers while demanding high-speed stability, braking performance and cornering grip from vehicles and tires alike.

Tire management emerged as a key variable during the races, as high humidity, rainfall and dry surface conditions alternated throughout the weekend. The circuit's numerous sharp-cornering sections also put heat resistance, grip and handling stability to the test.

Hankook Tire & Technology supplied the Ion Race, Formula E's official electric vehicle racing tire, to support consistent performance under rapidly changing surface conditions. In electric vehicle racing, where instant acceleration, regenerative braking and energy management are closely intertwined, tire performance consistency is critical.

A brand experience zone for motorsport fans also operated at the venue during the event. Hankook Tire & Technology set up a fan village inside the circuit featuring racing simulators, live performances and a gaming zone.

The company also displayed its Ion lineup of electric vehicle-dedicated tires alongside the Formula E-spec Ion Race, using the world's largest electric vehicle market as a platform to promote its electrification tire technology.

Pascal Wehrlein of the Porsche Formula E Team took victory in Round 12, while Lucas di Grassi of the Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team claimed the win in Round 13. With only four rounds remaining in Season 12, the battle for the top of both the drivers' and teams' championship standings has intensified.

The next race moves to Tokyo, Japan, where Rounds 14 and 15 of Season 12 — the 2026 Tokyo E-Prix — will be held as a doubleheader July 25-26. The event will mark Japan's first Formula E night race, set against the tight technical corners and high-speed sections of the Tokyo street circuit.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire & Technology is expanding its Ion product lineup in China's electric vehicle market. The company has been broadening partnerships with major local electric vehicle brands — including BYD, Denza (a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz), Leapmotor and Seres — to strengthen its supply base for electric vehicle-dedicated tires.


kwater@heraldcorp.com