Hyundai enters the world of EV racing
The Ioniq 5 N has received a lot of love internationally since its launch, and to prove the car’s potential on the track, Hyundai has built a cup car out of its popular EV sports car. The car is due to race in a new series, which will take some time to gain traction but provides a glimpse into the future of electric cup car racing.
The new series in question is the eN1 class, which is similar to the already popular N1 class but consists of more short sprint races and one-on-one competition, similar to the kind you would find in Rally Cross. This new series, although currently only racing with electric Hyundais, isn’t limited to this brand and opens a battleground for other EV manufacturers to test their metal against their biggest rivals. They will even be putting different tyre brands to the test, as the cars aren’t limited to one tyre manufacturer.
So, this new cup car in question is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but on a special diet. It is a lighter variation of the road-going EV and shaves just under 300kg off the claimed factory weight. It has a new look too, with a wider stance, a substantial rear wing, and various other aerodynamic alterations. Being a cup car, it loses the interior niceties but gainsoll cage and bucket seat. Oddly, though, Hyundai decided to persist with the artificial engine noises, which have left a few of us scratching our heads.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find a dual motor set up, producing 478kW which is the same as the standard road-going car, but considering the weight loss, it’s expected to do the 0-100km/h sprint in around the 3-second mark. Of course, the cup car comes with racing additions like forged 18-inch wheels and slick tyres, making this electric weapon a real track monster. We’re looking forward to seeing how this racing series develops, as well as the unique EV rockets that may emerge as a result of these advances.
