Hyundai Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation are set to co-host a groundbreaking motorsport event, the Hyundai N x TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival, which will showcase their high-performance models and racing cars. This event aims to introduce Korean fans to the exhilarating world of motorsport.
Scheduled for October 27, 2024, at Everland Speedway in Yong-in, South Korea, the festival marks the first-ever collaboration between Hyundai N and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the country. The event will feature a Track Day, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in the high-performance culture and witness the capabilities of Hyundai N and Toyota GR vehicles in action.
A key highlight will be a thrilling demo drive reminiscent of a live rally, featuring professional drivers and racing cars from both companies’ World Rally Teams. Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to experience these competition vehicles firsthand through a special test ride. The collaboration seeks to elevate Korean motorsport culture to new heights.
Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, and Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation—who also participates in driver activities under the name ‘Morizo’—will be in attendance.
Hyundai N will present its acclaimed rally cars from the World Rally Championship (WRC), including the i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid and i20 N Rally 2, driven by Hyundai Motorsport WRC stars Thierry Neuville, Dani Sordo, and Andreas Mikkelsen. Touring Car Racing (TCR) drivers Norbert Michelisz and Mikel Azcona will showcase Hyundai N’s production models like the IONIQ 5 N and Elantra N.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will display its GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid, GR Supra, and GR86, alongside its rally and high-performance models. Toyota WRC driver Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota World Rally Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala, and nine-time Japan rally champion Norihiko Katsuta are set to participate.
The festival will also look to the future of motorsport by featuring prototype vehicles, including Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N Drift Spec, N Vision 74, and the Pikes Peak record-breaking IONIQ 5 N TA Spec. Toyota will present its hydrogen-powered innovations, such as the AE86 H2 Concept and the GR Corolla Liquid Hydrogen, which showcase Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to electrification.
“This event will highlight the fierce competition and camaraderie that motorsport fosters, while also underscoring the shared passion both Hyundai and Toyota have for advancing car culture,” said Yeong Ho Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Hyundai Motor.
Manabu Konyama, CEO and President of Toyota Motor Korea, echoed these sentiments, saying, “We are thrilled to see Hyundai N and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, global competitors in motorsport, come together to celebrate the love of cars and motorsports.”
For over 20 years, Hyundai Motor has been a strong supporter of motorsport in Korea, sponsoring events like the Hyundai Click Speed Festival and the Hyundai N Festival. This latest collaboration between two giants of the automotive world aims to expand and further solidify motorsport’s presence in Korea.
For more information, visit the official Hyundai N x TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival website at https://www.hn-tgr-festival.com and follow Hyundai N and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s social media channels.
