Two manufacturers with considerable success in motorsports are joining forces for an upcoming festival.
According to a press release, Hyundai and Toyota will host the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival on Oct. 27, 2024. This event will take place at Everland Speedway, the first permanent motor racing facility in South Korea.
This inaugural event will provide fans with an up-close look at some of the top racing vehicles from each manufacturer.
The Hyundai list includes the i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid, i20 N Rally 2 IONIQ 5 N, and Elantra N models. Hyundai will have WRC drivers Thierry Neuville, Dani Sordo, and Andreas Mikkelsen on hand for the event. TCR drivers Norbert Mischelisz and Mikel Azcona will be in control of the production cars.
Toyota’s lineup will include the GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid, GR Yaris Rally 2, GR Supra, and GR86. The championship-winning manufacturer will also include other “rally and high-performance models.”
Current WRC driver Takamoto Katsuta will serve as one of Toyota’s drivers for the motorsports celebration. Another will be Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team principal Jari-Matti Latvala. Additionally, nine-time Japan Rally Champion Norihiko Katsuta will join the festivities as a driver.
The fans will also have access to “test rides” where they ride along with professional drivers from each manufacturer.
“We’re glad that Hyundai N and Toyota Gazoo Racing, which are competitors in world motorsport, are working together to create an opportunity to enjoy car culture beyond motorsport,” said Manabu Konyama, CEO and President of Toyota Motor Korea.
“Toyota remains committed to furthering and strengthening motorsports culture.”
The celebration will not solely focus on the racing vehicles, however. Hyundai will bring some prototypes to put on display. This includes the IONIQ 5 N Drift Spec, hydrogen-powered N Vision 74, and Pikes Peak record-holding IONIQ 5 N TA Spec.
Toyota will showcase the Toyota Gazoo Racing’s hydrogen combustion engine AE86 H2 Concept. The manufacturer took cars from the 1980s and used them to showcase alternate powertrains. One featured battery power while the other featured a hydrogen combustion engine.