TCRMacau
Carsales Staff21 Feb 2017
NEWS

Touring Car future for Hyundai

Just not ‘those’ touring cars… as Hyundai commits to emerging four-cylinder formula with i30N

Hyundai is going touring car racing – only not ‘the’ touring cars about which you’re thinking.

Via its German based motorsport division, Hyundai has committed to entering the emerging TCR events now starting to populate European and other racing calendars.

Tipped to eventually replace formulas like the World and British Touring Car Championships, TCR International is an Italian based four-cylinder front-drive formula run by promoter, Marcello Lotti.

The most recent entrant into the TCR fold was Audi with its RS3 LMS sedan. Brands like Volkswagen, Honda and Opel have also built factory-backed customer cars to the regulations.

Hyundai Motorsport will build and sell a racing version of its i30N. The new car will be built and developed at the organisation’s HQ in Alzenau by the newly created Customer Racing department.

Hyundai’s N division is believed to be heavily involved in the project which it could use as a marketing tool for its range of road cars.

Hyundai says testing will begin in “early [Northern Hemisphere] spring”, with customers’ first cars scheduled to be delivered in December. Based on that timing the first race outing for privateer i30 TCR cars will likely be the Dubai 24 Hour next January.

“The project, built to compete in the growing number of TCR championships around the world, continues the growth of Hyundai Motorsport,” the company stated.

In line with current TCR regulations, the car will be powered by a two-litre turbocharged engine from within the Hyundai range, and fitted with a six-speed sequential racing gearbox and 100-litre fuel tank.

Hyundai’s Customer Racing department’s first car was an R5 spec version of the i20 WRC car for national-level rally competition.

“The beginning of our first project specifically for circuit racing is a very important step for Hyundai Motorsport,” Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan stated

“The TCR regulations are being embraced by a growing number of series around the world. By representing Hyundai in these championships our TCR car will promote the manufacturer in motorsport, together with our WRC and R5 projects.

“The coming months will be very busy for the Customer Racing department, with the TCR development running alongside the continuing support of our existing customers. I know, though, that we will create a strong car for an increasingly competitive category. Let’s look forward to seeing it on TCR starting grids,” Nandan stated.

Efforts to establish the TCR series in Australia have so far been problematic, in part due to questions regarding the ownership of the term ‘touring cars’.

Hyundai Australia says it has no local racing plans. Nor has it committed to purchase or import any of the TCR spec i30 racers.

The 2017 TCR International Series comprises nine confirmed rounds, many of which are partnered with existing events, including the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hour in May. One race is in China which already has a fledgling domestic TCR series. Last year Macau (pictured) hosted a round.

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Written byCarsales Staff
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