Just because global auto giants Toyota and Hyundai are locked in a fierce battle for this year’s World Rally Championship (WRC) title – or even in terms of car sales – doesn’t they cannot unite in the name of motorsports. The carmakers’ performance divisions will link up for the inaugural Hyundai N x Toyota GR Festival in South Korea.
Both sides will bring their full performance arsenal for the festival, to be held on 27 October 2024 at the Everland Speedway. This will include their WRC machines, high-performance production models and prototypes.
The unexpected but welcomed announcement was made via a cool video on YouTube, starring the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Toyota GR86. Cementing their motorsports bond was the narration, “We race as competitors. The moment we meet, a new thrill begins. Beyond competition, united by passion.”
Such is the magnitude of the event that heads of each organisation will be present. Euisun Chung, Executive Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group and Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation will be on hand, with the latter taking to the track himself under his racing moniker of ‘Morizo.’
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Among the activities will be a track day event, allowing attendees to witness and experience all the Hyundai N and Toyota GR models. It will even include demo rides of their WRC rally cars with taxi rides by the professional WRC hot shoes.
The armaments in Hyundai’s corner will include the i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid and Rally 2, with WRC drivers Thierry Neuville, Dani Sordo and Andreas Mikkelsen doing driver duties. Production Hyundai N models comprise the electric Ioniq 5 N and the petrol Elantra N with TCR drivers Norbert Mischelisz and Mikel Azcona putting them through their paces.
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Attendees will also be able to catch the Ioniq 5 N Drift Spec, Ioniq 5 N TA Spec and retro-inspired N Vision 74 prototypes in the metal.
In Toyota’s corner, you will find the GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid and Rally 2, GR Supra and GR86 together with the hydrogen-powered AE86 H2 Concept and GR Corolla prototypes. Leading the driver’s charge for them will be none other than rallying legend Jari-Matti Latvala, the current Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Team principal, as well as the father-son WRC combo of nine-time Japan Rally Champion Norihiko Katsuta and son Takamoto Katsuta.
Relatedly, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has also been selected as the new official vehicle for the Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway in Japan!
