Kumho Tire announced that all six of its sponsored drivers successfully completed the 104th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in Colorado on June 21.
This year, Kumho Tire partnered with PPIHC organizers to launch the Kumho Tire Gaining Traction program, aimed at nurturing rookie drivers. The initiative seeks to discover and support promising Colorado-based drivers with less than five years of competitive experience.
The program’s four sponsored drivers – Matus Huska, Earl O’Maley, Ernie Ramirez, and Ben Ryan – all completed the grueling 12.42-mile (about 19.99 km) course to the 14,115-foot (about 4,302 m) summit without incident. Two father-son drivers, sponsored since last year, also crossed the finish line, making it a clean sweep for all six Kumho-backed racers.
All sponsored vehicles were equipped with Kumho’s high-performance ECSTA V730 tires. These tires feature an advanced compound and robust block design, delivering exceptional grip and stability at high speeds. The company reported that the ECSTA V730 performed admirably in the extreme conditions of the PPIHC, which includes dramatic elevation changes and 156 challenging turns.
Kumho Tire also engaged in on-site marketing efforts at the official pre-race event, the PPIHC Fan Fest. The company displayed four participating vehicles and hosted a meet-and-greet signing session with their sponsored drivers.
Yoon Min-seok, Executive Director of Kumho Tire’s Global Marketing Division, expressed pride in the rookie drivers’ performance: It’s thrilled that all the newcomers selected for the inaugural Kumho Tire Gaining Traction Program completed this demanding race. He added that it remains committed to supporting the next generation of motorsport talent and will continue to leverage the global racing experience to enhance the performance tire technology and brand competitiveness.