Hyundai has just unveiled the Ioniq 5 N Time Attack before the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Hyundai is going to throw three cars into the endurance race, in an attempt to repeat the victory in the TCR class, while the 5 N TA will get ready for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this June.
Hyundai is going back to the 24 Hours of Nurburgring with drivers from three continents: Europe, North America, and China. It would be the Hyundai Motorsport's N fourth consecutive victory at the Nurburgring. There will be a three-car TCR team running on the German track. The Elantra N TCR, #830, #831, and #832, will be chasing the fourth class win.
Mikel Azcona, Marc Basseng, and Manuel Lauck will return after their success in 2022 and 2023, while Basseng and Lauck also won the TCR class in 2021 when Hyundai Motorsport debuted the Elantra N TCR.
Back in 2023, the Bryan Herta Autosport team, supported by Hyundai Motor America, claimed a third straight one-two finish in class for Hyundai Motorsport.
Team #831 is making a comeback this year, benefiting from the presence of drivers Mason Filippi, Harry Gottsacker, Mark Wilkins, and Bryson Morris. Meanwhile, TCR China stars Martin (Hongwei) Cao, Rainey He, Andy Yan, and Zhang Zhen Dong will drive for team #832. Martin Cao is the reigning 2023 champion in the national series.
Hyundai will also send the i30 Fastback N to the track to join the VT Front-Wheel-Drive class. It is the same team that achieved a class victory by nine laps in 2023, surpassing a technical issue.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA is going uphill at the Pikes Peak
And it is not just the Nurburgring the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA is ready for. It has been designed with Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record times in mind, alongside the Ioniq 5 N production model. It will be an all-electric four-car endeavor at the 102nd run in Colorado Springs on June 23.
Hyundai is aiming to achieve Electric Production SUV/Crossover and Electric modified SUV/Crossover records.
Photo: Hyundai Motorsport
The Ioniq 5 N TA comes with 687 metric horsepower (677 horsepower) and settings that are specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of the production car without actually fundamentally altering its base characteristics.
It carries over the power electric system but gets extra oomph thanks to the software tuning, which increases the output of the rear motor by 37 metric horsepower.
And that's not all. Hyundai is using the N Active Sound+ with modded speakers of over 120 dB. It is designed to enhance feedback for the driver as well as replace sirens typical of the electric Pikes Peak race cars.
The N TA received new shock absorbers, motorsport-spec brakes, and a unique high-downforce aerodynamic package. The car rides on 18-inch wheels with Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires.
A Recaro Pro Racer SPA Hans seat showed up on board, featuring Sabelt six-point Hans safety harness, a PPIHC-specific roll cage, and an EV fire suppression system for safer conditions along the 12.42-mile (20-kilometer) course that climbs over 4,700 feet (1,438 meters).
Rapidly changing weather, high-altitude conditions, and 156 turns are what driver and car have to face on their way to the Pikes Peak summit.
In Colorado Springs, the Ioniq 5 N TA Spec models will wear a special N design livery and will be in the hands of Robin Shute, four-time overall winner at Pikes Peak and King of the Mountain title holder, and Dani Sordo, Spanish World Rally Championship driver for Hyundai Motorsport.
Meanwhile, the car with the N performance color livery will be driven by Paul Dallenbach, 11-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner and three-time King of the Mountain Ron Zaras, a PPIHC rookie.
Hyundai went up the hill in Colorado Springs 32 years ago
The first time Hyundai went uphill in Colorado Springs was in 1992. Back then, Rod Millen won the 2-Wheel Drive Showroom Stock division, with the stopwatch going as far as 13 minutes and 21.17 seconds. Millet drove a Hyundai Scoupe with the then-new turbocharged dual overhead camshaft Alpha engine.
Ten years later, Hyundai hit the jackpot by setting a course record of 9 minutes and 46 seconds with a Hyundai Genesis Coupe driven by Rhys Millen.
At the Nurburgring, the automaker also shared collaboration plans with Gran Turismo, the sim-racing video game franchise designed for PlayStation consoles.
This time, the partnership will focus on various sim-racing activities, with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb being part of the plan. Before that happens, though, those who go take a look at Hyundai's booth at the Nurburgring can experience 10 Gran Turismo simulators.
This year, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race kicks off on June 1 and run through June 2. Starting this year, the racing event will officially be named ADAC REVENOL 24H Nurburgring for sponsorship reasons.
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