Korean tire makers eye F1 supply contract

(GMM) Two Korean tire manufacturers are reportedly interested in becoming the sport's new official tire supplier for the three-year tenure beginning in 2011.

That information was reported by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, although it added that formula one chiefs were keen to tweak the rules in a bid to convince Bridgestone to stay.

The Japanese company announced last November that it would honor the last season of its contract this year and then pull out of F1 at the end of 2010.

Auto Motor und Sport said one possible rule change is to simply make fewer tires available to the teams per grand prix, therefore reducing Bridgestone's reported annual F1 expenditure of about EUR100 million.

The magazine did not name the two manufacturers interested in F1's exclusive contract, but the major South Korean brands are Kumho, Hankook and Nexen.

The report also said a decision about F1's tire future will be taken at a meeting on 22 January.