Following a first outing in the VLN series in March, Hyundai Motorsport has now confirmed that two i30 N TCR cars will be entered into the Nürburgring 24 Hours race in May.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours is arguably the most prestigious race in the German motorsport calendar and will share its billing in 2018 with the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) event on the same weekend.
The i30 N has been developed with an endurance racing package which features an ABS system, additional headlights and a kit that facilitates rapid refueling.
Ahead of the entry into the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the cars will first take on the qualifying race this weekend (April 14 – 15) with eight drivers at the wheel: Jae-Kyun Kim, Nicola Larini, Manuel Lauck, Andreas Gülden, Peter Terting, Moritz Oestreich, Byung Hui Kang and Guido Naumann.
Gabriele Tarquini, who previously helped the car to third in class on its maiden run in the VLN, will not take part due to his focus on the FIA WTCR and the fact that drivers are not permitted to race on circuits on the WTCR calendar before the series visits them.
Two of the drivers, South Korean Kang and German Naumann, are accomplished journalist racers, with the former also being confirmed as racing in this year’s inaugural TCR Korea series. Gülden brings with him a wealth of Nordschleife experience, where he also works as a driving instructor.
As with the VLN entries the cars will be entered under the Hyundai N banner in conjunction with Target Competition.
Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Deputy General Manager Andrea Adamo says the 24-Hour race is the ‘perfect’ place to showcase the new endurance racing package for the i30 N.
“We were very happy with the performance of the i30 N TCR and the drivers at the first VLN race last month, so it was only natural that we look to the next challenge to prove the competitiveness of the car and our endurance racing package,” said Adamo.
“The Nürburgring Nordschleife remains one of the toughest tests in motorsport. As the biggest event of the year on the track the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours is the perfect place to show the i30 N TCR to the fans, and our potential customers.
“For both the Qualifying Race and the 24 Hours we have a strong driver line-up who have experience of both endurance racing and the Nordschleife. Together they and the team will be able to get the most from the car in what I am sure will be a very competitive class on an extremely demanding circuit.”