BERLIN: Hyundai Motor is inviting 300 enthusiasts from countries that sell the carmaker's performance N vehicles for a series of special events dubbed 'N Homecoming' during this year's Nürburgring 24 Hours Race.
The enthusiasts will be treated to an exclusive hospitality experience that will include a driving academy, helicopter tour and a viewing of the company's N models. The carmaker has been participating in the endurance race since 2016.
The ‘N’ badge stands for Namyang, South Korea - home to the company's R&D Center, and for the Nürburgring - home to a 3,600square meter Hyundai Motor European Test Center where Hyundai N models are developed and tested.
Meanwhile, a promotional booth in Ring Boulevard will showcase the company's models that will include the i20 WRC rally car, i30 N TCR and the i30 Fastback N in front of a wall that explains Hyundai N’s motorsport history.
Customers will be able to purchase a range of N-branded products ranging from caps to jackets and t-shirts.
Additionally, Hyundai is offering 300 N customers a once-in-a-lifetime N hospitality experience where they will gain valuable driving skills from instructors in an exclusive driving academy.
Out of the initial group, 55 guests will be selected for the N Corso, where they will drive one lap of the circuit before the main Nürburgring 24 Hours Race event begins.
“We’re delighted to offer our customers the chance to experience ‘N Homecoming’ - which is unique once-in-a-lifetime hospitality at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours race,” said Hyundai Motor Group executive vice president and head of product division, product operation & N sub-division Thomas Schemera.
“This event is one of the highlights of the Hyundai motorsport calendar and made all the more special by the fact that the N brand was born and honed here. This event will serve as a celebration of the Hyundai N brand.”
Hyundai Motorsport to challenge for victory at this year's 24-hour race with two TCR-cars built by the HMSG’s Customer Racing department in Alzenau, Germany - the i30 N TCR and the Veloster N TCR.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours Race is a legendary 24-hour touring car and GT endurance racing event that takes place at the world-famous Nürburgring circuit.
During the event, cars race 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 they are ranked after the total driving distance has been measured.
More than 150 cars and over 600 drivers participate in the event in different classes, which are categorized based on engine displacement and other standards.
The Hyundai Motorsport recently completed its preparations for the event with a strong Qualifying Race weekend. Both cars finished in the top two positions in the TCR class.
Hyundai has participated in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race for the past three years.
In 2016, the team completed 91 laps of the gruelling race track with the Hyundai i30 2.0 Turbo development car, a total distance of 2,309.39km.
The team also completed the fastest lap time of 9min and 55.626 seconds, breaking the 10-minute barrier per lap.
In 2017, two close-to-production Hyundai i30 N models completed 244 laps of the Nürburgring, totalling more than 6,000km on the race track as a testament to its durability ahead of its 2017 launch.
Last year, two pairs of Hyundai i30 N TCR cars finished an impressive second and fourth in the TCR class, despite treacherously wet conditions.
