Will Hyundai bring the Elantra N racing series to the United States? This single-make racing series could find its way to our shores for more motorsports fun.
Hyundai created the one-make racing series and debuted it at the 2019 N Festival in South Korea. Originally, this series was only meant to offer racing around the home country, but it could be heading our way next year. The racing series initially involved six events of single-model racing, which quickly became the largest of this type of racing in the country. What should we expect if this racing series comes to the United States?
How has this racing series evolved?
When Hyundai first began the N Festival racing series, it was made for amateurs and involved the Veloster N Cup and Avante N Line Cup. The Avante is the Korean version of the Elantra, which means the small sporty sedan has its own racing series. Although this series involved amateurs during its first few years, the Avante N Cup put 15 professional drivers among the 15 amateurs to make the racing more competitive.
The racing improved with professionals, and it was taken to the Nürburgring 24-hour Race to see how these cars could do during a much larger race. The good results mean the Hyundai Elantra N could be used as a single-make racing series held in other regions of the world, including China and the United States. This could bring a greater following to these races and allow racing fans and more drivers to enjoy more fun than ever before.
The pro cars got much better
The N Division created the competition sedan driven by professional drivers, which has much sharper and more impressive upgrades compared to the amateur-only cars. Professional drivers can handle more hardcore driving and can easily experience the fun of taking on the track for an active ride.
The debut model of this new competition sedan utilizes the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Engen and 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission from the production car. The power difference comes in the remapped software, which gives this car a 10% increase in horsepower and torque for more fun at the track.
In addition to a remapped power system, this improved professional version of the Hyundai Elantra N has a KW Competition suspension with 16 pillow balls that replace the rubber bushings. This change gives the car improved power and handling feedback. The shocks can be customized further with four choices of springs and a small amount of camber change to give this car the racing look and feel.
Added control make driving better
Racing these new Elantra N performance cars around the track should be a joy to watch. Hyundai harnesses the added power and improved suspension components with a set of 19-inch racing wheels with 240-section Hankook tires. These are great tires for the racing series but added control comes from the Alcon six-piston brakes in the front and back that use larger discs than the standard production brakes. Drivers will have five brake pad compounds to choose from, which have been specially developed for the N Festival races.
Better aero and airflow
The new Hyundai Elantra N racing car also has extra intake ducts to push more air to the stoppers, vents, and brakes. This puts air where it’s needed to keep the engine running right and brakes cool enough to stop this car quickly. There’s also a CRP swan-neck rear spoiler added to push the rear of this racing Hyundai down on the track.
Other exterior upgrades include a set of wider fenders and new bumpers to give this car better aerodynamics compared to the production car. The wider tires enable higher cornering speeds, making this sedan a much faster model than its mundane counterpart.
Going inside this is a racing machine
Don’t expect the comforts of an Elantra sedan inside these specially developed racing cars. The interior brings race-car style and everything necessary to give a driver the ride and protection required on the track. This area has a racing driver’s seat, six-point roll cage, racing steering wheel, digital dashboard, and spec telematic device. Removing the production model interior features cuts 408 pounds from the production version’s cub weight.
Where will the Elantra N race in the United States?
The six races scheduled in Korea are already set, but we don’t have the announced US stops yet. There are several great options when it comes to racing this car here. Currently, Hyundai has the Elantra N racing in a few series in the US, which could be great options to give this car and the series some familiar turf.
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