Hyundai to hold Korea's first electric car one-make race competition

Hyundai Motor Company will host the eN1 class for the first time at the second round of the Hyundai N Festival 2024, the largest one-make race competition in Korea, from Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 May at Yongin Everland Speedway.

The 'eN1 Class', which will be held for the first time in Round 2, will feature the IONIQ 5 eN1 Cup car, Korea's first one-make EV race car based on the high-performance electric car IONIQ 5 N.

Designed with safety and lightweight in mind, the IONIQ 5 eN1 Cup car features exclusive race parts for faster cornering speeds and greater stability. With its aerodynamically enhanced exterior and amplified NAS+ (N Active Sound Plus), it will provide the unique virtual engine sounds of each team, giving spectators a new experience of EV one-make racing. In addition, N e-Shift, a virtual gearshift, will be available in real races to add to the fun of the race.

With a total of six IONIQ 5 eN1 Cup cars competing in a tournament format, the round will be a chance to meet some of Korea's top drivers who are also active overseas, including Park Joon-woo (N1 class champion in 2024), winner of the first round of the TCR Italy, Kim Kyu-min (N1 class champion in 2023), who will compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Endurance Race in 2024, and Park Joon-sung (N1 class runner-up in 2023), who competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Endurance Race in 2023.

In addition to the N Vision 74 and WRC rally cars on display, there will be a variety of other attractions and activities, including circuit taxis, racing simulators, children's transport activities, food trucks and more.

Till Wartenberg, Head of N Brand & Motorsport Division at Hyundai Motor Company, said, "The second round of the 2024 Hyundai N Festival will be the first one-make EV race in Korean motorsport," adding, "We will continue to try various changes and make advancements so that we can lead the way in popularising motorsport in the era of electric vehicles."

Hyundai will also provide live streaming of the Hyundai N Festival through various online channels, including YouTube and Naver TV, so that customers who cannot attend the event in person can enjoy the competition. More information on the Hyundai N Festival can be found on the Hyundai N Worldwide website and Hyundai N Festival social media channels.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Hyundai N Festival will run for 11 rounds until October, with six rounds of N Cup (sprint races) and five rounds of N TT (time trials). The sprint races will be organised in the existing 'Hyundai N Cup (Professional Class, N1 Class)' and 'Hyundai N Cup (Amateur Class, N2 Class)', as well as a new class for electric vehicles, the 'eN1 Class'.

Article roadtesting editorial (dhseo1208@gmail.com)

Photo Hyundai Motor Company