Hyundai N to Compete in Nürburgring Endurance Race for 11th Consecutive Year

Three Cars to Compete, Including the Elantra N TCR and N1 RP

Validating the Next-Generation High-Performance Powertrain

Hyundai Motor Company's high-performance brand 'Hyundai N' announced on April 22 that it will participate in the final race of the '2026 Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race,' to be held in Germany from May 14 to 17 (local time).

On the 19th (local time), the Elantra N1 RP participated in the Nürburgring 24-hour qualifying race. Hyundai Motor Company

The Nürburgring 24-Hour Race is one of the world's top endurance races, with rankings determined by the cumulative distance covered over 24 hours on a circuit that includes the Nordschleife, famously known as the "Green Hell." The circuit stretches 25.378 kilometers and features a vertical difference of up to 300 meters and about 170 corners, creating a harsh driving environment with an average completion rate of only 60-70%.

Since its debut in 2016, Hyundai N has successfully completed the race for 10 consecutive years through last year and has claimed five consecutive victories in the TCR class since 2021. This year, Hyundai N will aim for its sixth straight TCR class win and, by entering the SP4T class for the first time, plans to validate its next-generation high-performance powertrain that will be featured in future N models.

The TCR class features touring race cars that retain much of the production car's form and components, built to 'WSC international standard regulations.' In the SP4T class, cars with turbo engines of 2,600cc or less, built in accordance with DMSB regulations, compete after more extensive modifications.

Hyundai Motor Company will field a total of three vehicles: one Elantra N TCR in the TCR class and two Elantra N1 RP cars in the SP4T class.

The Elantra N1 RP, competing in the SP4T class, is a race car developed based on the N1 Cup car used in Korea's Hyundai N Festival. Notably, it is equipped with a next-generation high-performance powertrain in the pre-production stage, which Hyundai N is unveiling for the first time in 10 years. The entry will be driven by an international lineup of drivers from Korea, Europe, and the United States.

The Elantra N TCR, competing in the TCR class, features a team of European drivers with rich international endurance racing experience, including Mikel Azcona, Mark Bessent, Manuel Lauck, and Nico Bastian. For the SP4T class, participants include Mikel Azcona, Manuel Lauck, Mark Wallenwein, Kim Gyumin, Kim Youngchan, Hyundai junior driver Shin Woojin, and CJ Sepulveda from the United States.

Korean driver Kim Gyumin achieved back-to-back championships in the Hyundai N Festival N1 class in 2023 and 2024, while Kim Youngchan and Shin Woojin finished first and third, respectively, in the same competition in 2025.

At the Nürburgring circuit, drivers are posing for a commemorative photo with the race cars Elantra N1 RP (first and second from the left) and Elantra N TCR in the background. From left to right: CJ Sepulveda, Kim Gyumin, Shin Woojin, Kim Youngchan, Mark Bessent, Mikel Azcona, Nico Bastian. Hyundai Motor Company

The Nürburgring 24-Hour Race is once again a stage where Hyundai N showcases its high-performance driving capabilities and development philosophy proven through motorsports. In particular, this year's race will serve as a comprehensive test of the performance and durability of the next-generation high-performance powertrain, ensuring thorough preparation for mass production.

Hyundai Motor Company has leveraged motorsports such as the Nürburgring 24-Hour and WRC as proving grounds for high-performance technologies, continued to invest in the Hyundai N brand and core technologies, and established a virtuous cycle that connects achievements on the global motorsport stage to the development of mass-production vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Company Executive Director Junwoo Park, head of N Management, stated, "The Nürburgring is a symbolic stage where Hyundai N's philosophy of 'born in Namyang, honed at the Nürburgring' is realized. It is both an opportunity to prove the performance of our next-generation powertrain, which will usher in a new era for N, and a turning point that will elevate Hyundai Motor Company's high-performance technology to the next level."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.