Hankook Continues as ADC Title Sponsor as Series Eyes Record 2026 Grid
The Korean tyre manufacturer extends its naming rights partnership with the Australian Drivers' Championship, backing what could be the series' biggest field in its AASA era.
Hankook will continue as naming rights partner of the Australian Drivers' Championship in 2026, with the Korean tyre manufacturer maintaining its backing of what is shaping up as the series' most ambitious season to date.
The Hankook Australian Drivers' Championship has grown significantly since AASA took control of the title in 2024. Average grids have risen from 14–15 cars in the inaugural season to 20-plus in 2025, and with the expanded six-round calendar and increased AASA platform support, organisers are expecting 2026 to push that further.
For Hankook, the ADC represents an ideal platform — a genuinely competitive, nationally televised open-wheeler series with a growing base of passionate competitors and a clear growth trajectory. The association with racing series that emphasise talent over budget aligns with the brand's broader motorsport positioning.
Dean Crooke, director of Hyper Racer, has been tracking grid numbers closely and sees reason for optimism. Multiple new team arrangements are being finalised for 2026, and the series' lease drive model — which allows drivers to enter without the capital cost of car ownership — continues to lower the barrier to entry.
Reigning champion Damon Sterling enters 2026 under the Ironclad ID banner, and a full grid of challengers is expected to be confirmed in the weeks leading up to the March opener at The Bend. If 2025 proved anything, it's that in the ADC, the champion earns every point.