Hyundai Motor clinches victory at Nurburgring Endurance Series

Two Elantra N TCRs cross the finish line at the 2023 Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race side by side in Germany, Sunday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hyundai Motor's high-performance N brand won the grueling Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race in Germany, the company said Monday. Its Elantra N TCR and i30 Fastback N Cup Car secured first place in their respective classes, TCR and VT2, during this year's competition at the Nurburgring from May 20 to 21.

The Nurburgring Endurance Series, nicknamed “Green Hell,” determines the winner based on the vehicle that covers the longest distance within a 24-hour period. The race presents a challenging driving environment with narrow roads, steep elevation changes and blind corners.

A total of 131 vehicles participated in the race, with 67 percent or 88 vehicles completing it successfully. Hyundai fielded two Elantra N TCRs and two i30 Fastback N Cup cars.

The Elantra N TCR claimed the TCR class championship for the third consecutive year, securing an overall ranking of 27. The i30 Fastback Cup car took first place in the VT2 class, achieving an overall ranking of 53.

"We are extremely pleased with the Elantra N TCR's three-year reign as the TCR class champion and our eighth consecutive completion," said Till Wartenberg, executive vice president of N Brand & Motorsport Division at Hyundai Motor. "We will continue to push the boundaries of the high-performance N brand's technological capabilities to deliver even more thrilling driving experiences to our customers."

Hyundai livestreamed the Nurburgring race for 24 hours on the official Hyundai N website.