28 Sep 2020
The Elantra N TCR was finally revealed for the first time at the Beijing Motor Show last weekend. As the newest addition to Hyundai’s range of TCR designs offered to customer teams, the Elantra N TCR now joins the hugely successful i30 N TCR and the Veloster N TCR. Enough with the introduction. Let’s watch it roll.
About the Elantra N TCR
In line with all the TCR regulations, the Elantra N TCR is a front-wheel-drive powered by a two-liter turbocharged engine. It generates 350 horsepower at 7000 rpm and torque of 450 Nm at 3500 rpm. The car shares the same six-speed, paddle-shift operated gearbox as the other Hyundai TCR designs, while the use of the Elantra model as a base provides an instantly recognizable silhouette on track.
Drivers will be able to take full advantage of the Elantra’s stable, high-performance chassis and sedan body shape as well as appreciate the expertise Hyundai Motorsport has from more than two years of customer racing. The first cars are expected to be delivered before the end of 2020 in markets where the standard Elantra is sold.
Developed from scratch, from the TCR drivers’ point of view
The challenge was on for the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing department as the Elantra N TCR was built on an all-new platform, which meant everything had to be made from scratch. The car went through vigorous testing, completing 5,000km of testing at circuits around Europe in just 3 months, with the sprint and endurance options being honed in parallel.
Also, the Customer Racing department sought the advice of several different drivers in the developing stage. This includes Gabriele Tarquini, who was instrumental in developing the i30 N TCR among all four of the current i30 N TCR drivers from the WTCR. This allowed the team to build a well-rounded package that is suited to both the TCR regulations and customers’ needs, which will surely contribute to the success of the series worldwide.
Let’s hear what our TCR team has to say about the Elantra N TCR:
I’ve already been able to complete a lot of laps in the car in testing, driving both the sprint and endurance versions, which are being developed together. There are lots of small changes which customer teams and drivers will really appreciate, such as improvements in the steering system over the previous cars. Clearly, the Elantra N TCR is much bigger, but with enhanced handling, behind the wheel, you cannot notice the difference.
After three months of testing and development work, I am very happy to finally be able to reveal the Elantra N TCR to the world. Staging the first public showing of the car in China shows our global plans for the cars to strengthen Hyundai Motorsport’s in race series around the world. We have already made great progress in developing the chassis with a number of different drivers to create a strong overall package for our customers to allow the Elantra N TCR to continue the success of Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing in TCR competition.
With such efforts, the Customer Racing department tried to create the best overall racing package, while taking the opportunity to improve on the existing Elantra where possible; making sure the car delivers the right performance fit for the incredibly competitive TCR category.
Success of the N Brand in the TCR series
There is no doubt that Hyundai’s TCR models have been the choice of the champions so far, and the Elantra N TCR is about to maintain the winning streak.
The i30 N TCR, the first-ever circuit-racing car built by the company, was introduced to the class at the end of the 2017 season at the Zhejiang International Circuit in China, where it won on debut. Ever since, the i30 N TCR customers have won back-to-back WTCR drivers’ titles, winning a third of all racing contested in the series to date. It granted Hyundai teams with a total of 8 championships in different series in 2019 as well.
The Veloster N TCR, the second TCR model for Hyundai, proved that these records were not just pure luck. The Veloster N TCR also immediately won both the drivers’ and teams’ titles in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in the USA in its debut year 2019 and has been successful ever since.
From the start, Hyundai was not complacent, nor will it ever be. Stay tuned to witness the victories the Elantra N TCR and the rest of the TCR lineup will achieve, like always.
