Hyundai Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation have joined forces to organize the inaugural ‘Hyundai N x TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival’ at Yongin Speedway in Korea. The event aimed to showcase high-performance production and racing cars from both companies, highlighting their shared dedication to enhancing South Korea’s motorsport culture and engaging customers.
The festival featured dynamic show runs by Hyundai N and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda actively participating in the event. The two executives piloted high-performance vehicles, including Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N Drift Spec and Toyota’s GR YARIS Rally 1 HYBRID, to the delight of spectators.
During the event, Euisun Chung expressed the commitment of Hyundai’s high-performance N brand to delivering excitement and enjoyment to car enthusiasts. He emphasized the collaboration with Toyota in pushing forward in motorsport to allow more people to experience the thrill of driving. Akio Toyoda, on the other hand, shared his gratitude for the opportunity to partner with Hyundai, highlighting the shared vision of creating a better society and shaping the future of mobility.
Hyundai N showcased its high-performance lineup, including the i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid, i20 N Rally 2 competition cars, as well as the mass-produced N models such as the IONIQ 5 N and Elantra N. Toyota demonstrated its high-performance vehicles with show runs featuring the GR YARIS Rally 1 HYBRID, GR Yaris Rally 2, GR Supra, and GR86.
The festival included various participatory programs for customers to experience firsthand, such as a track day event where owners of Hyundai N-model and TOYOTA GR vehicles could drive their own high-performance cars on the circuit. Attendees also had the chance to ride in a full WRC racing car, participate in a Gymkhana Competition, and showcase their customized vehicles at the ‘Show & Shine’ corner of the event.
The festival culminated in a ‘Parade Lap’ featuring 66 Hyundai N and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicles driven by customers, with Executive Chair Chung and Chairman Toyoda leading the way. Both companies also showcased their next-generation high-performance vehicles at their respective brand booths during the event.
Hyundai Motor and Toyota Motor Corporation announced that all proceeds from ticket sales would be donated to the Korea Automobile Racing Association (KARA) to support the development of domestic car culture and motorsport expansion.
Hyundai Motor has a long-standing commitment to developing motorsport culture in South Korea, with initiatives such as the ‘Hyundai Click Speed Festival’, ‘Korea Speed Festival’, and ‘Hyundai N Festival’. Since returning to competition in the WRC in 2012, Hyundai Motor has participated in various motorsport events, gaining experience and developing innovative technologies for high-performance vehicles.
The company launched its high-performance brand, Hyundai N, in 2015, and continues to deliver the joy of driving to customers through its N models. Hyundai Motor is also pioneering high-performance eco-friendly vehicles, such as the IONIQ 5 N, by applying motorsport-based technologies to provide driving fun in the era of electrification.
Looking ahead, both Hyundai World Rally Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will compete in the FORUM8 Rally Japan, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship 2024 series, showcasing dynamic performances from both squads.
For more information about Hyundai Motor and its products, visit: https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai