There were a few coy smiles around the dinner table at the international launch of the Ioniq 5 N. Senior Hyundai engineers were willing to confirm that the company was indeed heading to Pikes Peak this summer, but wouldn’t divulge anything more. Now we know what they were so excited about: the Ioniq 5 N Time Attack.
Two of these TAs will be racing to the clouds in Colorado next month, alongside a brace of production-spec models. The road cars will be targeting the record for Electric Production SUV/Crossover, as suggested in April, with the wild racers going for Electric Modified SUV/Crossover records. It feels like the Ioniq 5 N with the rear spoiler from a Suzuki Escudo and a Mr Plow front end would be a shoo-in for that record, but then Pikes Peak does always like to throw up surprises.
At any rate, they represent an evolution of the eN1 Cup Car that Hyundai is using for a one-make race series in Korea. Like the circuit racer, the TA uses motorsport-grade brakes (including big AP Racing calipers) three-way-adjustable dampers, lovely 18-inch wheels on Yokohama slicks and a Recaro seat. Aside from the wild aero add-ons - or ‘unique high-downforce aerodynamic package’, officially - the main change is a roll cage specific for the hill climb.
Most encouraging, at least for future evolutions of the road car, is how much of the Time Attack is carried over from the showroom model. The 84kWh battery and motor are the same, with software tuning having already liberated an extra few horsepower, now rated at 687hp.
Hinting at their level of intent, Hyundai has drafted in reigning King of the Mountain Robin Shute to pilot one of the TAs, with WRC hand Dani Sordo in the other. The production cars will be driven by Paul Dallenbach, who’s won the hill climb 11 times, and Ron Zaras. Hyundai’s Head of N Brand and Motorsport Till Wartenberg said: “We are investing in the future of motorsport with our first ever electric Pikes Peak racer… Motorsport passion continues to be at Hyundai N’s core as we move into the future.”
There are more immediate motorsport concerns to think about as well, as four Elantra N TCR cars entered by customer teams will be competing in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend. A fourth consecutive TCR win is the aim. A Hyundai Driving Experience i30 Fastback N will compete in the VT2 FWD class, following its victory last year. N24 weekend is also the backdrop for Hyundai to announce a collaboration with Gran Turismo; not a VGT car - that was done as long ago as 2015 - but instead ‘for various sim-racing activities including Pikes Peak International Hill Climb participation.’ Interesting. More details are to follow later in the year. For now, N24 kicks off at 1500 BST tomorrow, and Pikes Peak is on June 23rd. Bring it on!
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