Gabriele Tarquini and Antti Buri to share driving duties on Hyundai i30 N TCR’s Misano debut

Official test driver Gabriele Tarquini and TCR Germany race winner Antti Buri will be at the wheel of the new Hyundai i30 N TCR at the Misano 24 Hours this weekend, which marks the debut of the Korean manufacturer’s car in anger.

The plan for the weekend is to treat the race as a series of extensive tests, which will allow the team to explore the potential of the car in different weather conditions. The goal is to make sure the car is competitive in each possible condition in which the car may be used by customers.

Testing in a competitive environment will be a crucial step in the development of the i30 N TCR, as Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing manager Andrea Adamo explains.

“Entering the car at the 24H Misano is a unique opportunity for us during the development phase of the project”, said Adamo. “Obviously the running we have already completed, and that which we plan for the coming months, is very important, but this event gives us the chance to test in conditions that are impossible to replicate away from a competitive environment.”

The race will be divided in stints with breaks between them, to allow the team to change the settings of the car.

“With the time on track at night, as well as during the daylight, we will be able to see how the car’s behaviour shifts depending on the atmospheric and track conditions that will be constantly changing. To make the most of the weekend we will manage our time on track, splitting the race in several sections where we will focus on the endurance racing aspects of the design.”

As TCR cars can be used for both sprint and endurance racing, the test will be important to ensure the car can be employed by customers in any circumstances. The cooling system will also be put to the test, as the Italian summer is expected to strike the Misano World Circuit with temperatures expected to reach 36 degrees.

The first cars are expected to be delivered by December 2017.