The new design echoes the latest road-going Elantra N model and improves the aerodynamics
Hyundai Motorsport has revealed its new look for the Elantra N TCR to be driven by Customer Racing drivers Norbert Michelisz, Mikel Azcona and Néstor Girolami in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour this season.
Michelisz, Azcona and Girolami will run as a single team under the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse banner as the team – and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing – aim to continue their excellent record in the top tier of international Touring Car racing.
Whilst retaining the same Hyundai Motorsport-designed multiple-championship winning underpinnings, the Elantra N TCR features new bodywork and a new livery for the enlarged assault on the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour.
The Elantra N TCR’s new look reflects the latest facelift applied to the road-going Elantra N, which was launched in September 2023. The new livery for the 2024 TCR World Tour season is inspired by the N Motorsport colours worn by Hyundai Motorsport’s 2024 FIA World Rally Championship challenger, the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid. The prominent N on the flanks of the car strengthens the connection between Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing’s successful TCR project and Hyundai N cars.
The decision to field a three-car team for the 2024 season strengthens the squad’s challenge for the teams’ title in 2024, having competed with only two drivers last year against outfits fielding as many as four entries for each event. Despite this, Michelisz was still able to claim a second championship win with the team. His success was the fifth title for BRC Racing Team and their drivers since their arrival in the TCR category. The team will again be led by Gabriele Rizzo as Team Principal and veteran driver-turned-Team Manager, Gabriele Tarquini.
Tarquini won the inaugural FIA WTCR title in 2018, before Michelisz and Azcona claimed their own crowns in 2019 and 2022. The Spaniard’s win was one half of BRC’s first-ever TCR title-double as they claimed victory in the teams’ standings. It is a feat they aim to emulate this year.
The new season begins at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy on April 19-21. The event will be the competitive debut for Girolami as a Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing driver after the Argentine joined the team for pre-season testing last month.
Hyundai Motor Company Vice-President of Hyundai N Management & Motorsport Sub-division Till Wartenberg said: “Maximum relevance to Hyundai’s range of road cars has always been an important part of all the cars designed and built by Hyundai Motorsport, so it was natural that the new look to the road-going Elantra should be reflected in the look of the Elantra N TCR for the 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour. There has always been a close connection between our motorsport projects and Hyundai N – from the first N cars to now with the Elantra N and the all-electric IONIQ 5 N. This link is further strengthened this season by the prominent N included in the livery that BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will use this season. I’m looking forward to another successful season in Kumho FIA TCR World Tour this year, as we aim to continue Hyundai’s excellent record in the category.”
Hyundai Motorsport President & Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “Our Customer Racing project and success in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour is very important to Hyundai Motorsport. TCR is our only circuit racing project, and a vital way we can support the Hyundai N road cars with our activities in Alzenau. Through success in WTCR, TCR World Tour and other series around the world our Customer Racing department has built an excellent reputation. This brings with it extra pressure to maintain our position at the top of the category. For the 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour season, adding a third car was a critical step in our ambitions to do exactly that. With Néstor onboard alongside Norbi and Mikel who we know can each challenge for the title, we certainly have the customer line-up to add to our successful record.”
Hyundai Motorsport Circuit Racing Project Leader Julien Moncet said: “Last year was another very successful season for Hyundai Motorsport and BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse in TCR World Tour. Norbert Michelisz won more races than any other driver and ended with the drivers’ championship in Macau. However, we always need to push to stay at the top. The decision to add Néstor Girolami in a third Hyundai Elantra N TCR alongside Norbi and Mikel is a massive step in our efforts to do this, to challenge for the teams’ title as well as the drivers’ crown. Girolami is a very experienced driver in TCR and exactly the right person to help the team compete on both fronts this year. Whilst the underpinnings of the Elantra N TCR remain as before, the car gets a striking new look which is also beneficial in terms of aerodynamic performance. We know we can expect our rivals to have made their own progress during the winter, and that the changes in calendar and regulations will give us obstacles to overcome, but also opportunities to gain an all-important advantage.”
Norbert Michelisz said: “I expect some very tough competition in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour this year because I’m sure that the other teams were not sleeping during winter testing. I’m looking forward to all the new tracks we will visit but I’m not exactly sure what to expect in terms of results since there will be many unknown factors. However, with BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse and the Hyundai Elantra N TCR I’m in the best position to repeat the success I had last year. How I approach the season doesn’t change for me, because I’m only looking ahead, so I don’t feel like I’m the defending champion, only that I need to prove things against my rivals again when we start the new season in Vallelunga.”
Mikel Azcona said: “I’m really looking forward to the 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour season. With the new compensation weight rules for I expect we will see more straight-forward competition and less management during qualifying, which I think is good. Now the driver who gets more points at each race weekend will have the most weight for the next event, which is justly deserved. Having three BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai Elantra N TCR will have a positive effect for the whole team. It will give us some extra strength working during the races against our opponents and more options for strategy during the qualifying laps. For example, we can work with a triple slipstream on high-speed tracks for an extra boost in straight line speed compared to what we were able to do with just Norbi and me.”
Néstor Girolami said: “It is a great motivation and a great challenge to join BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse. It will be a very competitive season in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour and I hope to be up to the task from the beginning of the championship to achieve the results that we all want. I had a very good feeling with the Hyundai Elantra N TCR and with the entire team during testing. There were two very positive test days in Vallelunga. The driving style is quite different from what I was used to, and I adapted to what the car needs. The successful pre-season we completed were essential for me, so I can arrive at Vallelunga with maximum confidence in the car and team.”
