[NEXEN CULTURE] Inside Motorsports pt. 2: All About NEXEN TIRE Motorsports

Summary

• HJ An was previously featured as our first Gear Up employee interviewee in July.
• This time, we sat down with HJ to learn more about what and how NEXEN TIRE focused on in motorsports in 2022.
• HJ not only focuses on motorport development and marketing, but he has also been a professional race car driver for over 20 years. In fact, he competed in 94 races and was on the podium 28 times. So motorsports is serious business for him.

Introduction

NEXEN TIRE has been competing in motorsport races in Korea and around the world via direct and indirect sponsorships.

The races are largely divided into two categories: competition and one-maker.

NEXEN TIRE has participated in three major races in the competition group: the CJ Superrace Championship Super6000 class, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 BRZ Cup, and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

In the races, the following tires have been used:

CJ Superrace Championship Super6000 class, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86 BRZ Cup: SS01 & SW01

Nürburgring 24 Hours: N'fera Sport R

When it comes to one-marker races, they are only held domestically in Korea. For 17 years, the company sponsored NEXEN speed racing.

In addition, by supplying the N'FERA SUR4G semi-slick tires exclusively in the BMW M class and the Cadillac CT4 class at the CJ Superrace Championship, NEXEN TIRE has been to demonstrate its outstanding technical skills.

Not as easy as it looks

It may appear simple when you see the driver racing in the field, but this is not the case. If you don't keep both balance and timing in mind when pressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will slide as easily as if it were on ice. That is why tires are so important, as grip and handling must be considered.

Why motorsport is important

Tires account for 50% of the weight in competition motorsport races, team system and car condition account for 30%, driver abilities account for 10%, and the remaining 10% is all luck.

When a tire brand becomes the official tire of a motorsport competition, it means that the event's title sponsor trusts that tire maker with the safety of the participating drivers.

What NEXEN hopes to achieve through motorsports

Motorsports serves as a link for tire manufacturers to build brand power, which leads to premium OE and RE markets. Not to mention establishing trust in the quality and safety of our tires.