Hyundai Motorsport GmbH (HMSG; Korean: 현대 모터스포츠) is a division of South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company responsible for the brand's global motorsport activities. The company was established in December 2012 and is based in Alzenau, Germany.[1]
A predecessor based in Korea, Hyundai Motor Sport, existed at least between 1998 and 2003. This was the department of Hyundai that contracted Motor Sport Developments to run campaigns in the 2-Litre Cup of the World Rally Championship with the Hyundai Coupe F2, and in the WRC Manufacturer's championship with the Hyundai Accent WRC.[2][3][4] In September 2003, after a season hampered by budget constraints, Hyundai withdrew from the WRC, severing the partnership with MSD whilst vowing to return with an in-house operation based in Germany for 2006.[5][6]
Nine years later at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Hyundai announced it would be returning to the WRC in 2014 using the i20 model built to World Rally Car specifications.[7] As promised, on 19 December 2012 an in-house operation, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH, was established in Alzenau, Germany, responsible for the programme.[1]
In December 2015, the Customer Racing department was established to provide rally and touring cars and services to private customers. Its first project was an R5 specification car based on the Hyundai i20 model which debuted in September 2016 at the Tour de Corse with three entries. The department has grown to provide touring cars for use in global and national competition.[1]
HMSG developed the Hyundai i20 WRC for use in the WRC from 2014. An evolution, the i20 NG (Next Generation) was run in 2016 before being replaced in 2017 with the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC due to new regulations.[1] In 2022, with another new set of regulations, the hybrid i20 N Rally1 was launched after a delayed and interrupted development, caused by internal turmoil and the departure of the team principal Andrea Adamo.[8][9]
Hyundai's 2023 WRC2 campaign is being run by French racing company, 2C Compétition using Hyundai i20 N Rally2 cars.[14] In 2022, Estonian based RedGrey Team (former MM Motorsport) were contracted to enter WRC2 on Hyundai's behalf. Whilst 2C Compétition and RedGrey could be considered Rally2 car customers of HMSG, in return Hyundai are considered customers of their operational services. RedGrey is also part-owned by Ott Tänak, who in 2022 was a contracted Hyundai World Rally Team driver.[15]
The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 is a rally car developed and built by Hyundai Motorsport to Group Rally2 specifications. It is the successor to Hyundai i20 R5.
In early 2017 Hyundai Motorsport announced it was developing an i30 N touring car based on TCR regulation.[16] The car made its debut in the Touring Car Endurance Series 24h of Misano before being made available to customers by the end of the year.[17]
BRC Racing Team entered four i30 N TCR cars in to the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season. Reigning drivers’ champion Tarquini and teammate Michelisz returned to compete with BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse team. Newcomers to WTCR Augusto Farfus and Nicky Catsburg signed to BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team for the season.
The i30 N TCR won the USAC Pirelli World Challenge TCR class in 2018 with Bryan Herta Autosport in owner and manufacturer championships.
Veloster N TCR
Hyundai added the Hyundai Veloster, a car sold in some markets where the i30 is not sold, as a TCR option in 2019. The Veloster N competed in the 2019 Michelin Pilot Challenge and the 2019 24 Hours Nürburgring under the Hyundai Motorsport N marque alongside a Hyundai i30 N TCR. Both cars finished on the podium of the TCR class.
An electrical version of the car – Veloster ETCR, was unveiled in 2020 to compete in the Pure ETCR championship starting from 2021.[19]
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