When two titans of the automotive world join forces, you know something special is about to happen.
Hyundai Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation recently pulled the covers off their first-ever joint event, the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival. Held at Yongin Speedway, this festival was a full-throttle celebration of motorsport culture in South Korea.
The event saw Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Chair, Euisun Chung, and Toyota’s charismatic Chairman, Akio Toyoda, sharing the spotlight. After their vehicle demonstrations, complete with WRC-style donuts and crowd-pleasing stunts, the two industry heavyweights took the stage together.
Chung summed up the spirit of the festival perfectly: “With our high-performance N brand, we’re committed to delivering excitement and satisfying all car enthusiasts. We’ll continue to push forward in motorsport alongside Toyota.” It was a sentiment echoed by Toyoda, who lauded the collaboration as a way to “shape the future of mobility.”
The festival featured a thrilling lineup of cars, from Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N Drift Spec to Toyota’s GR YARIS Rally 1 Hybrid. Fans were treated to electrifying show runs by world-class drivers, including Thierry Neuville and Takamoto Katsuta.
Attendees had the chance to hop into these beasts for a firsthand experience too. The WRC Taxi and Circuit Taxi programs offered hair-raising laps around the track, with professional drivers demonstrating the full prowess of Hyundai N and Toyota Gazoo Racing vehicles.
For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, the festival offered plenty of other attractions. A Gymkhana Competition saw customers teaming up with professional drivers, while the Show & Shine corner showcased some customizations.
To end off, a Parade Lap featuring 66 cars from both brands showed off cars from both brands, led by Chung and Toyoda themselves.
Inside the brand booths, Hyundai unveiled its futuristic Rolling Labs concept vehicles like the hydrogen-powered N Vision 74. Toyota displayed innovative models like the AE86 H2 Concept.
From this event, Hyundai and Toyota pledged to donate all ticket proceeds to the Korea Automobile Racing Association, furthering the development of motorsport in the region.
Hyundai’s commitment to motorsport is nothing new. Over the past two decades, it has cultivated a thriving car culture through events like the Korea Speed Festival and the Hyundai N Festival.
Looking ahead, both companies are gearing up for the FIA World Rally Championship’s final showdown in Japan. In the words of Toyoda, “Together, Toyota and Hyundai are creating a better society.”
With the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, we can safely agree with them.
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