2025.07.11 Hyundai Motorsport Team
Hyundai Establishes Itself as Nürburgring 24 Hours Powerhouse: Mapping the 10 Year Journey
Hyundai Motor Company has just marked its 10th consecutive finish at the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours. Over the past decade, the automaker has matured its high-performance vision into a formidable force—leaving an indelible mark on one of the world’s toughest endurance races.
Hyundai’s performance brand, Hyundai N, marked its tenth straight finish at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (June 21–22, 2025) in Germany’s Nürburgring region. The Elantra N TCR clinched 1st and 2nd place in the TCR class—marking both a decade of consistent race completions and five consecutive TCR-class victories.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours is one of the most grueling races worldwide, with only 60–70% of entries typically finishing. Known as “The Green Hell,” its demanding layout spans over 15.5 miles, with elevation changes reaching nearly 1,000 feet and more than 170 turns. Drivers and cars are constantly tested—tire noise leaves no margin for error, and sud-den fog and rain are common pitfalls that eliminate even the best drivers.
2016–2017: A Dream Takes Shape
Hyundai first entered the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2016—before the official launch of Hyundai N—with an i30 test car featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The mission was to validate engine performance and gather endurance data. Hyundai achieved its sole objective by finishing the race, and that data played a key role in developing the production i30 N.
In 2017, Hyundai returned to the Nürburgring 24 Hours to put the finishing touches on the i30 N’s performance validation. The pre-production i30 N entered the race with only minimal modifications—just enough to meet competition regulations—which instantly drew attention. After all, the Nürburgring is the ultimate proving ground for any performance machine. That year, Hyundai fielded two i30 Ns: one driven by professional racers, and the other piloted by engineers from the Namyang R&D Center who were directly involved in the car’s development. Both cars crossed the finish line, proving that the i30 N could be fast, safe, and race-ready—whether in the hands of pros or passionate amateurs.
2018–2020: Bolder Frames, Bigger Goals
In 2018, Hyundai entered the Nürburgring 24 Hours with the i30 N TCR—a race car developed for the WTCR (World Touring Car Cup). Having quickly gained a reputation as a rising star in touring car racing, the i30 N TCR drew considerable attention. Two cars competed in the TCR class and finished 2nd and 4th, clearly demonstrating their competitive edge. Just two years after entering the Nürburgring as a test mule, Hyundai had not only developed a world-class touring car but also proven its mettle with a podium finish at one of the world’s toughest endurance races. The industry took notice—Hyundai’s performance was no fluke.
In 2019, Hyundai expanded its lineup at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with three entries: the i30 N TCR, the Veloster N TCR, and the i30 Fastback N. It was a clear sign that the Hyundai N portfolio was growing stronger. All three cars successfully completed the grueling 24-hour race. In the TCR class, the Veloster N TCR finished 2nd, and the i30 N TCR claimed 3rd, fueling greater excitement and anticipation for a class win in the near future.
By 2020, Hyundai N returned to the Nürburgring with the same trio of cars—and this time, delivered even stronger results. The Veloster N TCR finished 23rd overall and 2nd in the TCR class, while the i30 N TCR came in 51st overall and 4th in class. Perhaps the most impressive achievement came from the i30 Fastback N, which entered the SP3T class for production-based cars under 2.0 liters. It clinched 50th overall and 1st in its class—marking Hyundai’s very first class victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
2021–2022: Elantra N TCR Takes the Crown
The 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hours marked a major turning point for Hyundai. That year, the automaker unleashed its newest TCR-class weapon: the Elantra N TCR. With both the Elantra N TCR and i30 N TCR in its arsenal, Hyundai went all-in for a class win—and delivered. In its Nürburgring 24 debut, the Elantra N TCR took the TCR class victory, while the i30 N TCR followed closely behind to claim 2nd place, securing a dominant double-podium finish. After six years of effort, Hyundai had finally taken the TCR crown—and in convincing fashion.
The 2021 race also featured the race car version of Hyundai’s entry-level N model, the i20 N. Powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, the i20 N competed in the SP2T class for production-based cars with engines between 1.4 and 1.7 liters. It came out on top, clinching the class win.
In 2022, Hyundai N returned to the Nürburgring with a mission: defend its TCR title. This time, three cars hit the grid—an Elantra N TCR, an i30 N TCR, and an i30 N Cup Car. Once again, Hyundai swept the top of the TCR class, with the Elantra N TCR finishing 1st and the i30 N TCR taking 2nd. Even more impressively, the Elantra N TCR placed 18th overall—outpacing many GT3 and GT4 cars in a race where the average finish rate was just 69%. That kind of result spoke volumes about the car’s performance and, just as importantly, its rock-solid durability over 24 brutal hours.
2023–2024: Hyundai N Dominates as a Nürburgring 24-Hour Powerhouse
At the 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours, Hyundai showed off its growing maturity in race strategy. The team entered two Elantra N TCRs in the TCR class, sweeping the top two positions. At the same time, it fielded an i30 Fastback N in the VT2 class for production-based vehicles—and took home 1st place there, too. These weren’t just strong cars—they were smartly managed entries that highlighted Hyundai’s evolution in racecraft as much as engineering.
By 2024, there was no question: Hyundai N had become a force to be reckoned with at the Nürburgring. That year, the lineup was more global than ever, with team members hailing from the U.S., Europe, and China. Hyundai sent three Elantra N TCRs to compete in the TCR class.
The weather at the 2024 event was brutal. Torrential rain fell before the green flag, and thick fog blanketed the circuit during the race. But Hyundai’s front-wheel-drive setup gave it an edge in the slick conditions. Drivers took advantage of that stability early, gaining the upper hand and never looking back. By the end of the 24 hours, Hyundai had swept the entire TCR podium. It was an emphatic statement: in the TCR class at the Nürburgring, Hyundai N was the undisputed king.
2025: A Milestone Year of Historic Records
At the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours, Hyundai rewrote the record books. With a flawless 10th consecutive finish and its fifth straight victory in the TCR class, the Korean brand cemented its place in endurance racing history. Since the debut of the Elantra N TCR, Hyundai has never once relinquished the top spot in its class—and 2025 proved no exception. The Elantra N TCR once again showcased its world-class durability and performance.
Much of that success came down to the drivers. The Team Europe trio—Manuel Lauck, Marc Basseng, and Christer Joens—drove car #830 with commanding pace from start to finish, claiming a decisive victory in the TCR class.
Not far behind, Team Americas also turned heads. Michael Lewis, Mason Filippi, Bryson Morris, and Robert Wickens brought home 2nd place in the TCR class with car #831. Wickens’ performance was especially inspiring—despite being paralyzed from the waist down, he completed his stints using a hand-control system, proving once again that determination knows no limits.
The global reach of Hyundai N was on full display in 2025. The Elantra N1 Cup Car (#303) entered the SP3T class with a diverse international lineup: Kyu-min Kim and Young-chan Kim from Korea’s Hyundai N Festival, Zhang Zhen Dong from the China TCR Series, and Jeff Ricca from the U.S.-based TC America Hyundai N Trophy Cup. It was a team built across borders, united by the Elantra N.
Unfortunately, the N1 Cup Car was unable to finish. After nearly 18 hours of racing, it was hit from behind by another car, forcing a retirement. Still, the effort was far from wasted. These drivers—many of whom came up through amateur racing—proved they could hold their own on one of the world’s biggest stages. And they offered a glimpse into Hyundai N’s promising motorsports future.
Carrying the Dream Forward—The Road Ahead
Looking back at Hyundai’s decade-long journey at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, it’s clear that the race has shaped the identity of Hyundai N as a true high-performance brand. What began as a dream to simply finish the race evolved into the foundation for building thrilling performance cars that bring the exhilaration of motorsport into everyday driving. And that dream has since grown into the creation of world-class touring race cars that dominate global circuits.
But Hyundai N is far from done. Through continued involvement in motorsports and other high-performance ventures, the brand will keep pushing its engineering capabilities, delivering cars that perform—and excite—at the highest level. Hyundai is also deeply committed to cultivating a global motorsport fanbase. During this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours, Hyundai shared a booth with Toyota, showcasing not just a rivalry, but a mutual passion for motorsport and a spirit of collaboration that transcends competition. Together, they shared their vision with fans around the world.
The past ten years at the Nürburgring have been a journey of realizing a dream—but dreams don’t stop. Just as Hyundai N expanded into electrification with the IONIQ 5 N, its vision continues to grow. The challenges ahead will be met with the same determination. And who knows—someday, we may see a dedicated EV class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with the IONIQ 5 N leading the charge. Until then, Hyundai will keep chasing that dream—and delivering driving excitement for all of us.
