Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed its four drivers for the inaugural season of the all-electric PURE ETCR series this year, with Tom Chilton and John Filippi joining the already-confirmed Augusto Farfus and Jean-Karl Vernay.
The quartet will take to the wheel of the electric Hyundai Veloster N ETCR in this year’s inaugural ETCR series, which gets underway at Vallelunga in Italy in June.
Farfus and Vernay are the marque’s regular development drivers, with Brazilian Farfus having done much of the work on the new car so far, before being joined by Frenchman Vernay earlier this year.
British Touring Car Championship and former World Touring Car racer Chilton has now joined the roster, along with fellow former WTCC racer and TCR Europe race winner Filippi.
“The building and development of the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR has been a huge challenge for everyone involved,” said Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Andrea Adamo.
“The project represents so many firsts for the team – first all-electric car, first rear-wheel-drive chassis, first design where the motors are in the centre of the chassis.
“At every stage there has been something to learn.
“Racing in PURE ETCR is the natural next step for the project, and in the four drivers we have for the season ahead I believe we have a line-up where everyone is capable of racing for victory on every weekend.
“So far we have risen to, and beaten, every challenge that has presented itself in the process of building and developing the car and competition is just the latest one of these.
“I look forward to the start of the racing season, and seeing our four drivers in action.”
Chilton has spent the past three years racing solely in the BTCC, where he will continue to compete in 2021 in a Ciceley Motorsport BMW. The 36-year-old was also previously team-mates with Filippi in the 2017 WTCC.
“Electric-powered racing is a new challenge for me, but as part of the Hyundai Motorsport line-up for PURE ETCR I think I am in the best place to race for victories,” said Chilton.
“I know the team will have done a great job in developing the car so far. I’ve worked with John before, but this will be my first time sharing a garage with Augusto and Jean-Karl.
“They’re both very successful in TCR and Touring Cars in general, so I’m sure they’ll be strong competitors, and a good benchmark to compare myself to, through the season.
“I’m looking forward to driving the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR for the first time in the next few weeks to feel the performance for myself, and even more to racing it when the first weekend of the season comes.”
Filippi was a race winner in a petrol-powered Hyundai i30 N TCR in last season’s TCR Europe, where the Corsican enjoyed his best-ever season in touring car racing on his way to second overall in the standings.
“Even though I raced Hyundai TCR designs last season, a move to PURE ETCR with the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR is still a big change for me,” said Filippi.
“I know it will be a challenge, but it’s something I’m looking forward to.
“My first priority is to get used to the car in pre-season testing. Everything will be new – new car, new team and an entirely new format for the race weekends.
“However, as the first season of a new championship, everyone is going to be in a very similar situation. As a driver that’s an exciting position to be in and a great opportunity to show what you can do.
“I’m sure it will be a very competitive series, and watching the racing should be very exciting. It should be a great season.”