Title: Sébastien Ogier Unleashes Fury on Hankook’s Tires Amid Monte Carlo Rally Chaos!
In a stunning display of frustration that shook the motorsport world, rally legend Sébastien Ogier unleashed a torrent of scathing criticism aimed squarely at Hankook’s studded tires during the Monte Carlo Rally. The nine-time world champion didn’t mince words, declaring the performance of the tires “unbelievable” and labeling them as “the worst I’ve ever seen in my whole life.” His shocking remarks came after a grueling stage where he lost over a minute in less than 15 miles, leaving fans and competitors alike gasping in disbelief.
At the center of this tire debacle is Hankook’s head of motorsport, Steven Cho, who faced the media head-on, fully aware that Ogier’s comments would dominate the headlines. “Honestly, it was hard to hear a nine-time champion say that about your tires,” Cho admitted, struggling to mask the disappointment. “But that’s motorsport—everyone is pushing themselves to the limit.”
With the rally’s conditions unexpectedly turning treacherous, filled with snow and slush that far exceeded expectations, Cho acknowledged that the performance of the tires fell short. “We’ve had many mild Monte Carlos in the past,” he noted, “but this year was different, and we knew it could cause issues.” Ogier’s frustrations echoed the sentiments of many drivers, with several crews calling for the FIA to allow modifications to the tires to enhance their grip on the brutal terrain.
But Cho stood firm, explaining that while modifications to the tire tread had been made in advance, it simply wasn’t sufficient to combat the unprecedented snowfall. “We made adjustments to add more grooves, but the snow was relentless,” he stated. “Allowing teams to cut their own tires is a slippery slope that could lead to chaos.”
Looking ahead, Cho revealed promising developments for a new generation of studded tires that are on the verge of being finalized. “We’re working on a design that has a much more open tread pattern, which enhances performance in colder conditions,” he explained. “The feedback from the P1 teams has been positive, but we need to keep pushing until the last moment.”
As the rally unfolds, the tension surrounding tire performance looms large, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Will Hankook rise to the occasion, or will this tire controversy haunt them in the coming races? Only time will tell, but one thing is crystal clear: Sébastien Ogier’s fierce critique has ignited a firestorm in the world of rally racing, and all eyes will be watching Hankook’s next move!








