Hyundai i30 N TCR Race Car Debuts In Chicago

The Hyundai i30 N has landed in America in the form of the i30 N TCR race car.

Currently on display at the Chicago Auto Show, the car will compete in the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Racing (TCR) class. Two cars will be fielded by Bryan Herta Autosport and they will enter competition on March 23rd at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Given its racing focus, the i30 N has been equipped with a widebody kit, a ventilated hood, and a prominent front splitter. The car also has a new rear bumper, a massive wing, and 18-inch Braid wheels.

The interior has been stripped of all non-essential equipment and replaced by a steel roll cage and Sabelt racing seats with six-point harnesses. The model also has a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a Lifeline fire extinguisher system.

Power is provided by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine which has been equipped with a BMC air induction kit and a Life Racing ECU. It produces 350 hp (261 kW) and is connected to a six-speed sequential transmission which has a multi-disc motorsport clutch.

To keep things under control, the car has adjustable dampers and a high-performance braking system. The latter has six-piston front monobloc calipers with 15-inch ventilated brake discs and two-piston rear monobloc calipers with 10.9-inch ventilated discs.

The cars will be driven by Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkens and Hyundai Motor America chief marketing officer, Dean Evans, said the company is “thrilled about the prospects for our new N branded racing team competing in the Touring Car Racing class of Pirelli World Challenge.”