Hyundai Veloster N TCR Joins i30 N TCR in 2019 as Global Customer Race Vehicle Roster Expands
- Championship-winning Bryan Herta Autosport will race the new Veloster N TCR in the 2019 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge series
- Bryan Herta Autosport to offer U.S. sales and support for Veloster N TCR and i30 N TCR
- Hyundai announces contingency awards programs for customer TCR teams in the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge and Blancpain GT World Challenge
- Veloster N and i30 N are homologated for both series
- 10-round IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge kicks off January 25 at Daytona International Speedway
SEBRING, Fla., Nov. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai today announced the next chapter in its championship-winning, customer-racing teams at the Michelin IMSA Sports Car Encore. Bryan Herta Autosport, fresh off the team's 2018 debut season in which it secured both the Team and Manufacturer championships in the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge TCR class, will compete in the 2019 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge in the all-new Hyundai Veloster N TCR race car. In addition, Bryan Herta Autosport will sell Hyundai TCR race cars to customer teams and provide technical and parts support.
The Veloster N TCR was designed by the same Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Team that developed the championship-winning i30 N TCR. Like its i30 stablemate, the Veloster N TCR will be produced at Hyundai Motorsport Headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. The two cars share around 85% of their core components, including the 350-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.
The Veloster N TCR will be fully unveiled closer to the start of the 2019 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge Season, which spans 10 rounds at marquee tracks across North America. The season kicks off on January 25 at Daytona International Speedway.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have Bryan Herta Autosport back with us, racing the new Veloster N TCR at America's most fabled racing circuits in the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge," said Dean Evans, Hyundai Motor America's Chief Marketing Officer. "After their championship run in 2018, we can't wait to see the show they put on for our fans and customers in the Veloster N TCR race cars."
"Chapter Two is going to be exciting," said Bryan Herta, president and CEO of Bryan Herta Autosport. "We learned so much by racing and winning with the i30 N TCR last season. We know just how excellent the platform is in hard competition. The Veloster N TCR retains everything great about the i30 N and gives us a world-class race car with a direct road-car counterpart that our fans can purchase and drive every day."
2019 MICHELIN PILOT CHALLENGE TCR CLASS SCHEDULE | ||
Dates | Location | Track |
January 25 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Daytona International Speedway |
March 15 | Sebring, Florida | Sebring International Raceway |
May 4 | Lexington, Ohio | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
June 29 | Watkins Glen, New York | Watkins Glen International |
July 6 | Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada | Canadian Tire Motorsport Park |
July 20 | Lakeville, Connecticut | Lime Rock Park |
August 3 | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | Road America |
August 24 | Alton, Virginia | VIRginia International Raceway |
September 14 | Monterey, California | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
October 11 | Braselton, Georgia | Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta |
NEW YEAR, NEW CAR
The Veloster N TCR is part of the ongoing rollout of the Hyundai N brand globally, and addresses the requests of Hyundai Motorsport customer teams in select national markets where the i30 N TCR race car was in competition, but the i30 N road car was not part of a region's production-vehicle model range. The addition of the Veloster N TCR to the customer motorsports lineup gives teams in national markets where the Veloster N road car is available a more relevant platform for their respective audiences.
Both Veloster N TCR and i30 N TCR are fully homologated for competition in officially sanctioned TCR series. Priority for initial Veloster N TCR deliveries, however, will go to customer teams in markets where the Veloster N road car is offered.
BRYAN HERTA AUTOSPORT TO PROVIDE U.S. SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
In the United States, Bryan Herta Autosport is the designated sales agent for the Veloster N TCR and i30 N TCR customer cars. The Veloster N TCR can be ordered for €135,000* plus shipping, with customer deliveries set to begin in March 2019.
Bryan Herta Autosport will also provide technical assistance, spares, and parts support to teams campaigning Hyundai TCR models in the U.S.
* NOTE: US pricing is dependent on exchange rates, which are subject to fluctuation. Based on current rates, for example, the Veloster N TCR would retail for approximately $155,000 plus shipping.
HYUNDAI BACKS CUSTOMER TEAMS WITH CONTINGENCY AWARDS PROGRAM
As Hyundai Motorsports heads into its second year of North American competition, Hyundai Motor America announces that it will support customer teams in the 2019 IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge and 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge with optional contingency awards programs in each series. Participating teams will be eligible for contingency payouts for each 2019 race based on IMSA or Blancpain GT World Challenge race results and eligibility requirements.
In the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge, both the Veloster N TCR and i30 N TCR are eligible. In Blancpain GT World Challenge, the eligible vehicles are the Hyundai i30 N TCR, Veloster N TCR, and, in the TC class, the Veloster N.
2018 HYUNDAI CONTINGENCY PROGRAM PAYOUT PLAN | |||||
Payout Schedule | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
TCR Class | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
TC Class | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
Drivers' Championship | $10,000 | $7,500 | $5,000 | ||
HYUNDAI VELOSTER N TCR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS | |
Engine | |
Type: | Hyundai Motorsport 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged |
Power (Max): | 350 hp @ 7000 rpm |
Torque (Max): | 450 Nm @ 3500 rpm |
Electronics: | Life Racing ECU and power management system |
Transmission | |
Type: | Front-wheel drive |
Gearbox: | Six-speed sequential gearbox with pneumatic paddle-shift |
Differential: | Mechanical with external pre-load adjuster |
Clutch: | AP Racing Cerametallic twin-disc |
Cockpit | |
Seats: | Sabelt competition seats |
Belts: | Sabelt six-point HANS compatible |
Instrumentation: | Life Racing compact configurable driver's display |
Chassis | |
Front suspension: | MacPherson struts with adjustable dampers |
Rear suspension: | Four-arm multi-link with adjustable dampers |
Steering: | Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion |
Front Brakes: | 380mm ventilated brake discs with Hyundai Motorsport-branded six-piston Brembo calipers |
Rear Brakes: | 278mm brake discs with two-piston calipers |
Handbrake: | Hydraulic control |
Wheels: | 10x18 inch aerodynamic Braid rims, designed for Hyundai Motorsport |
Bodywork | |
Structure: | Hyundai Motorsport designed lightweight high-tensile steel roll cage |
Bodywork: | Steel and composite fiber panels |
Length: | 4,450mm |
Wheelbase: | 2,650mm |
Width: | 1,950mm |
Track Width: | 1,610mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity: | 100 liters |
Weight: | 1,285kg minimum (including driver)* |
Price | |
€135,000 (approximately $155,000 in U.S. per current exchange rates) | |
*mandated by TCR regulations | |
ABOUT IMSA
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge as well as four one-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA or www.facebook.com/IMSA.
ABOUT BRYAN HERTA AUTOSPORT
Co-Founded by Bryan Herta in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single-car Indy Lights team into a world-renowned auto-racing franchise. The team made its first foray into IndyCar action in 2010 with an entry in the Indianapolis 500 while continuing to run a full-time multi-car Indy Lights program. The 2011 Indianapolis 500 was the final race of the Centennial Era, a celebration of 100 years of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also known as "The Most Important Race in History," the 100th anniversary of the inaugural 1911 race was the second IndyCar race in which Herta Racing competed.
Five years later, Bryan Herta Autosport, while partnered with Andretti Autosport, defied the odds again and won their second Indianapolis 500 with rookie driver Alexander Rossi. In 2015, Bryan Herta Rallysport made its debut in the exciting Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America is focused on delivering an outstanding customer experience grounded in design leadership, engineering excellence and exceptional value in every vehicle we sell. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to deliver peace of mind to our customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide, with the majority sold in the U.S. built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.
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TCR Sales Inquiries
Bryan Herta Autosport
Nick Franzosi
(317) 295-8070
[email protected]
SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
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