KUMHO TYRES will return as the official control tyre supplier and an official partner of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship for the next three years, in the extension of an ongoing relationship that will now expand to open doors for young drivers to enter the sport.

The relationship between Kumho and Formula 3 began in 2005 and is now one of the longest partnerships between a race category and a tyre brand currently ongoing in Australian motorsport.

Since 2005, 167 championship races and 13 non-championship races have been contested on Kumho tyres with more than 5000 individual tyres having been utilised in that time.

As part of the new arrangement between Formula 3 Management and Kumho Tyres Australia, the Kumho Cup will be inaugurated in 2014 as an entry-level category for club-level racers, 'lads and dads' teams or young drivers looking to gain wings and slicks experience.

"Kumho Tyres and the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship are currently coming to the conclusion of their ninth season together, and we are thrilled to confirm that we will be able to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our relationship in 2014, and onwards," said David Basha, national marketing and training manager - Kumho Tyres Australia.

"The Kumho Ecsta Formula 3 tyres used have helped propel the fastest cars in Australia to lap records at each of the six rounds this year, all of them providing teams and drivers with reliability and consistency.

"We are excited to work with Formula 3 Management to help develop the championship further and the new Kumho Cup will be a great way to introduce new competitors to the championship and we are happy to support for this this new concept into the future."

The Kumho Cup will be contested over four rounds in 2014 and will be eligible for 2002-2004 specification Formula 3 chassis. In a major cost-saving initiative, event entry fees will be free for all Kumho Cup competitors. Kumho Cup entrants will race for their own point score and will not be eligible to score Gold Star championship points.

The winner of the 2014 Kumho Cup will also receive their 2015 tyres at half price should they commit to the full F3 Australian Drivers Championship season in either the Forpark Australia National Class, or the outright Gold Star championship.

The Kumho Cup will open the championship up to new competitors and allow state level competitors an affordable entry point into the championship.

The Kumho Cup calendar will include four events on the 2014 calendar, to be announced in due course.

AGI Sport team owner Adam Gotch said the new class would be a positive way to introduce primarily state-based competitors, like his team, into the National competition.

Sydney-based AGI Sport have competed in selected F3ADC rounds, however are the reigning NSW Racing Car category champions - a class made up primarily of ex-Formula 3 championship machinery.

"The new class will be a great way to open national-level competition up to new names and faces," Gotch said.

"It will be well received by competitors at a state level and also by teams looking for a more affordable way to give young drivers a chance at the very high level that the national championship operates that. Congratulations to Kumho for backing the concept."

Tim Macrow currently leads the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship ahead of John Magro, with one round remaining.

Since its inception in 1960, Kumho Tyres has been a model of steady growth amid dramatic changes of business landscape. Driven by innovation in management and technical development Kumho has become one of the top ten tyre companies in the world.

Over the past half-century Kumho Tyres has built the foundation for a sustainable company, which has thrived through a full range of business environments.

Kumho has succeeded in the development of superior tyres for all vehicles including high performance passenger cars, sports utility and 4X4, as well as trucks, buses, mining and even aircraft.

Kumho produces more than 68 million tyres annually with a massive research and development program which comprises more than 600 research personnel and 300 testing machines at proving grounds in South Korea, China, Europe and North America. Kumho leads the world with the latest in tyre technology, safety and performance.

In Australia Kumho markets an extensive range of tyres for cars, 4WDs, light commercials, trucks and buses with a network centred around five state locations with the ability to distribute tyres to retailers across all areas of Australia.

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