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.
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 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.”
