Farfus to Demonstrate Hyundai ETCR Car at Daytona

A set of demonstration laps from a Hyundai Veloster N ETCR electric touring car driven by Augusto Farfus will form part of next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona event schedule.

Two-time and defending Rolex 24 GT Le Mans class winner Farfus will perform a high-speed demo of the Hyundai prior to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race on Friday, Jan. 29.

The car and its bespoke Enel X ETCR charger were today shipped from Luxembourg to Florida aboard a Boeing 747 freighter.

Hyundai’s ETCR challenger is set to make its competition debut in the Pure ETCR series this year, while the Daytona demonstration will mark the category’s introduction to the North American market.

“IMSA is honored to introduce ETCR to North America through this demonstration and our exclusive partnership with WSC just prior to the launch of our 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season,” said IMSA president John Doonan.

“The Hyundai Veloster N TCR has been a stout performer the last two years in Pilot Challenge, and we are all eager to see how the fully electric version performs next week.

“We are grateful to our partners at WSC and are eager to see what the future holds for ETCR here in IMSA.”

Hyundai is one of four manufacturers confirmed to build cars for the ETCR formula alongside CUPRA, MG and Alfa Romeo.

The South Korean manufacturer is also involved in the ICE TCR division and will be debuting the new Elantra N TCR in the Pilot Challenge race after Farfus’ demo. 

“The demonstration run at Daytona is a great opportunity for those behind the ETCR regulations and for us at Hyundai to show the excellent performance the Veloster N ETCR is capable of,” said Hyundai Motorsport team principal Andrea Adamo.

“We are honored to have been invited to showcase the car in front of the fans and race teams who will be there.

“The sight of the Veloster N ETCR at pace on the circuit is sure to build interest in the category, and in electric racing in general in a very important automotive and motorsport market.”

WSC president Marcello Lotti, who is in charge of the ETCR formula, added: “This event will showcase the amazing potential of the ETCR cars and will represent a huge promotion for the ETCR concept, the first ever that will feature different brands of fully-electric Touring Cars racing on real racetracks.

“I am sure that those in attendance will be very much impressed by the performance of the Hyundai Veloster N and hope that this will mark the first step towards establishing the category in North America in the near future.

“We wish to thank IMSA for giving us this opportunity and Hyundai Motorsport for providing the car and the team.”

Farfus, the car’s pilot for the Daytona run, is a development driver for Hyundai Motorsport in addition to his GT racing role with BMW.

“Being invited to run a demonstration at Daytona is a big opportunity to show the Veloster N ETCR to the world,” said the Brazilian.

“Through the testing we have already completed we know some of what it is very capable of putting on a good display, and the track at Daytona should let us show both the superb acceleration and the top speed.

“I think being able to see the car will create some great interest in the car, and the category, at a big event for motorsport in the US and internationally.”