Hyundai to run i30 2.0L Turbo N development car at the Nürburgring 24h Race.

• Hyundai to conduct performance powertrain production trial at iconic endurance race.
• Hyundai i30 2.0L Turbo N development car is one of three cars to contest the race.
• Nürburgring 24h race is part of the development of motorsport-inspired N models.

Hyundai Motor will run three cars at the iconic Nürburgring 24h Race, taking place from 26 to 29 May, as part of the company’s motorsport-inspired development of its high performance sub-brand ‘N’. Hyundai Motor will race two production-car-based models, i30 1.6L Turbo (#133) and a Veloster (#134), and the development car i30 2.0L Turbo N.

The i30 1.6L Turbo will focus on defending its 2015 class win, while the i30 2.0L Turbo N development car (#102) will concentrate on enhancing understanding of performance technologies ahead of Hyundai Motor’s future high-performance N sub-brand models. The i30 2.0L Turbo N will run to tackle the challenging German circuit in an intensive test of the new performance-focused powerplant.

“This Nürburgring 24h race provides the ideal test bed for our motorsport-inspired N sub-brand development and a key part of our ‘born in Namyang, honed at Nürburgring’ performance-car ethos. The technological inspiration and experience gained from this extreme testing will accelerate our development of high-performance, fun-to-drive N models,” said Albert Biermann, Hyundai Motor Head of Vehicle Test and High Performance Development.

Around 40% of the development i30 2.0L Turbo N is new with its newly-developed engine, plus enhanced transmission, suspension, dampers, in addition to upgrades in other areas as wheels, steering, wider fenders and the safety features that are obligatory in motor racing. The URL for the video clip containing more information on the 2.0L Turbo engine is as follows: https://youtu.be/BVmY3t2SjHE.

In September 2015, Hyundai Motor presented the prospect of its future performance N sub-brand models focused on delivering maximum driving pleasure to true motoring enthusiasts. With this goal in mind and as part of the ‘born at Namyang, honed at Nürburgring’ program, development engineers and technicians have, for several years, carried-out ‘accelerated endurance tests’ with its production cars and now use the Nürburgring also for intense tuning of the N high-performance vehicles.

The development car that will compete in the Nürburgring race was built for Hyundai Motor by race car designers and Hyundai dealership - Schumann. The two other Hyundai Motor racing cars already run were also designed and built by the Schumann motorsport department. 

During the Nürburgring 24h race, Hyundai Motor Deutschland will operate a ‘Hyundai N Fan Arena’ at the Brünnchen track with a giant screen airing the race live. Hyundai Motor Germany will provide fan packages consisting of chairs, caps and coffee coupons. Fans can also participate in a raffle to win an i30 1.6L Turbo, which will be given as the main prize.

Hyundai Motor has its own 3,600 square meter testing centre at the Nürburgring operated by the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre. The technical team based in Germany takes advantage of the Nordschleife’s 73 corners, gradients of up to 17% and a difference in altitude of some 300 meters, in order to perform a host of demanding tests. The ‘accelerated endurance tests’ consist of 480 Nordschleife laps (10,000km), completed over the course in just a few weeks. The intensity of the test simulates more than 150,000km in typical daily traffic.

Cars competing in the Nürburgring 24h race will complete around 150 laps of the 25.4km circuit – resulting in a total of 4,250km of extremely gruelling driving. The Hyundai i30 2.0L Turbo N will be raced by one of the test drivers who also carries-out Hyundai Motor’s endurance tests at the Nordschleife: Bruno Beulen. He will alternate at the wheel of the car with Nordschleife specialist, Michael Bohrer, as well as Alexander Köppen and Rory Pentinnen.

While the Hyundai Motor team is keen on achieving a strong result, the core focus of the development car is to gather motor-racing experience to enhance future mass production of N sub-brand performance cars.