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New Hyundai set to debut at Supercheap Auto Bathurst International
HMO Customer Racing has taken the covers off its new Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR, which it will debut at the inaugural Supercheap Auto Bathurst International in November.
Having received the new i30 Sedan N TCR last week at its Campbelltown workshop, HMO Customer Racing is completing the first shakedown for the model at Winton Motor Raceway today, with team drivers Nathan Morcom and Josh Buchan sharing the duties.
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Sitting fourth in the standings entering the final round at Bathurst, Buchan will give the model its competitive Australian debut as he targets a maiden Supercheap Auto TCR Australia title.
“It’s very exciting that new cars are being introduced to the category, which shows the growth of the championship and its relevance to manufacturers such as Hyundai,” said Buchan.
“I’ve never driven a brand-new anything before – from go-karts and throughout my car racing career – so to be given this opportunity is very special.
“On top of that, to learn that I will then be driving the i30 Sedan N TCR for the first time in competition at Bathurst is phenomenal and a genuine privilege. It’s a real honour to have the support to make this happen from all the team at HMO Customer Racing, including team owner Barry Morcom and my chief engineer Rob Benson, and also Hyundai Australia.
“While it is not ideal that I will be heading to Bathurst with very few laps under my belt, we have already proven how successful the i30 N TCR already is in hatchback form with multiple wins and are confident the i30 Sedan N TCR will be just as competitive, particularly at Bathurst.
“In any case, it is be great to get a better understanding of the car ahead of next year so we can get a head start and hit the ground running for a full title tilt in 2023.”
Debuting in 2021, the Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR is currently entered by teams across Europe, the US and South America where it has achieved incredible success in its short lifespan. Currently, Spaniard Mikel Azcona leads the FIA WTCR Drivers’ Championship and BRC Hyundai Squadra Corse the Teams’ standings, as Dutchman Niels Langeveld took the model’s first title of the year in TCR Italy a fortnight ago,
Morcom is excited by the new package and what it has to offer.
“It is be great to jump into the later generation TCR car to experience the differences between the two models and get a better understanding of how it performs.
“We know the i30 N is such a great car out of the box, and we have plenty of reference data at Winton Raceway with the hatch, so I can’t wait to see what the i30 Sedan N TCR can do.
“The car looks amazing in person, and the controls – especially on the steering wheel – are even more advanced, so it will be beneficial to get a good systems check and shake down all the new components ahead of Bathurst.”
Following on from confirmation French ace Teddy Clairet will join the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, the addition of HMO Customer Racing’s new Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR to the field at Bathurst is another exciting development.
The inaugural Supercheap Auto Bathurst International will be held on November 11-13.