Three other vehicles equipped with Kumho tires ranked first and second in N4 Class and first in the event's A7 Class among 139 vehicles.
Donelly's team made the decision to switch back to Kumho tires in 2009. "Harsh wind, hail and wet roads made this race extremely difficult, but with Kumho's high performing tires, we were able to win," said Donelly.
Kumho's performance at the Dakar Rally also was outstanding. Dakar Rally 2009, also known as "The Extreme Race," ended Jan. 18 after a 15-day race covering 10,000 kilometers. Nearly 180 vehicles participated in the car class and only 90 were able to finish. The French team equipped with Kumho tires ranked third in the T1.3 class, the highest ranking ever recorded by a car using Kumho tires in the Dakar Rally.
