Wayne, NJ Mar. 10

Hankook Tires USA and the iCarp/Flatoutracing.net team announced today that both entities will be renewing their support of one another. With major support from Hankook Tires, the team will be splitting their efforts between NASA Pro Racing's East Coast Honda Challenge and SCCA's ITA class. In addition the team will compete in the NASA Nationals, 12 Hours at the Point Endurance race, and the American Road Race of Champions.

Team members Ian Carpenter, Andrew Zimmermann, and Jon Kofod are ecstatic at the major level of support from Hankook Tires. Hankook Tires USA is part of the Hankook Tire Group, one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, manufacturing a full range of passenger, high-performance radials, light truck and SUV tires, as well as winter radials, Original Equipment, medium truck and bus tires. Hankook products are sold in over 200 countries worldwide. In addition Hankook is one of the fastest growing tire suppliers in the US motorsports market. Hankook Tires have won championships in SCCA, NASA, and the US Touring Car Championship.

“We are really excited about the level of support Hankook has given us and hope to be able to continue their winning tradition,” notes Kofod. Last year the team won the East Coast Honda Challenge Championship for the second consecutive year on Hankook tires. In addition the team took it's maiden victory on Hankook tires in the “12 Hours at the Point” endurance race at Summit Point Raceway beating several more well known tire manufacturers.

Carpenter and Zimmermann will be returning to NASA's East Coast Honda Challenge in hopes of getting Hankook Tires their third consecutive Honda Challenge title. Last year the team dominated the competitive H4 class with the team taking home 10 wins and 9 pole positions. Overall, in the past two seasons the team has won 23 Honda Challenge races.

Kofod will be focusing his efforts on SCCA's competitive ITA class. Kofod will be competing with SCCA in the Mid Atlantic Road Racing Series (MARRS) and also the American Road Race of Champions (ARRC), which is IT racing's version of the National Run Off's. The ITA class is one of the most competitive in the nations with IT fields sometimes exceeding 30-40 cars.

Hankook Tire America Corp.  is heading full speed into the 2006 Motorsports season and has posted a record $3 Million Motorsports Contingency Program. “Motorsports is increasingly important to Hankook as we continue to build our brand image within the racing community and with consumers,” explains Hankook Tire Marketing Director Bill Bainbridge. “Our $3 million contingency is one of the largest and best in grassroots racing, and should help get drivers closer to experiencing Hankook high performance quality on race tracks nationwide.

Watch for more exciting news from Team iCarp/Flatoutracing.net and Hankook Tires USA at www.flatoutracing.net and www.hankooktiresusa.com.