26.05.2017 Press release

24 Hours Nürburgring: modified i30 N set for ultimate endurance test

Press material

From 25-28 May, two close-to-production Hyundai i30 N vehicles will enter the 2017 ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the world-famous Nürburgring race track.
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is an annual 24-hour touring car and GT endurance event on the Nordschleife section of the iconic Nürburgring track. During the race, cars circuit the 25km-long course as many times as possible in 24 hours. Competing vehicles race around the track at top speed without pausing to rest, and are ranked after the total driving distance has been measured. Over 20 classes compete in the race – including more than 200 cars and over 700 drivers – and these are categorised based on engine displacement and other standards.
The Nürburgring celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and the 24 Hours Nürburgring event has been held since 1970. Nicknamed “the Green Hell” due to its demanding nature, the Nordschleife features 73 corners and a height difference of 300m between its highest and lowest points, making it one of the most demanding race tracks in the world. It is also a motorsports complex and home to Hyundai Motor’s 3,600 square metre European Test Centre, which opened in September 2013.

Two modified i30 N vehicles face the ultimate endurance test


The Hyundai Motor team will be looking to do even better than last year’s performance, where they completed 91 laps of the gruelling racing track with the i30 2.0 Turbo, a total distance of 2,309.39 kilometres. The team also recorded the fastest lap time of 9:55.636 minutes, breaking the 10-minute barrier. In 2015, the Hyundai i30 1.6 Turbo achieved a class win. Meanwhile, back in 2014, the team achieved a class victory and 71st place overall, finishing an impressive six laps ahead of its nearest class rival with the Veloster Turbo.
This year, Hyundai Motor is entering two modified i30 N vehicles, which feature technical specifications very close to the actual production car, in the 2017 ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. Based on the New Generation Hyundai i30, a production i30 N will soon be launched as the brand’s first high performance model carrying the “N” logo. The “N” stands for Namyang, Hyundai Motor’s global R&D Centre, and for the Nürburgring itself, while the logo resembles a chicane.

The participation of two close-to-production cars in the iconic 24 Hours Nürburgring is part of the i30 N's extensive development. As they race the car, Hyundai Motor engineers will identify areas for further refinement and potential performance enhancements.
The i30 N is in its final development stage ahead of its launch later this year having undergone rigorous trialling. Hyundai Motorsport WRC driver Thierry Neuville put the car through its paces on a frozen lake during winter testing in Sweden while the i30 N recently completed a testing programme on the most challenging roads in the UK.

Both modified cars at the Nürburgring will compete with a 2.0-litre turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission – the same powertrain and transmission setup that will be used in the production i30 N.

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