Hyundai Motor Company’s high-performance division, Hyundai N, has announced a groundbreaking global partnership with KUNOS Simulazioni, the creators of the acclaimed racing game Assetto Corsa. This collaboration aims to bring Hyundai N’s high-performance driving experience into the virtual world through the launch of the Hyundai N Virtual Cup (HNVC).
Bridging Real and Virtual High-Performance Driving
Unveiled at the ADAC SimRacing Expo in Dortmund, Germany, the partnership between Hyundai N and KUNOS Simulazioni marks a significant step in merging traditional motorsports with the rapidly growing eSports sim racing community.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward in bringing together Hyundai N brand fans and eSports enthusiasts,” said Joon Park, Vice President and Head of N Brand Management Group. “With the Hyundai N Virtual Cup, we aim to enhance the Hyundai N brand’s recognition and spotlight our high-performance models while providing our customers and fans with a unique opportunity to digitally experience our high-performance models through sim racing.”
The Hyundai N Virtual Cup: A New Era in eSports Racing
The HNVC is set to be hosted on Assetto Corsa’s platform, renowned for its realistic and immersive racing experience. The tournament will feature a range of Hyundai Motor’s high-performance models, including:
- IONIQ 5 N
- i20 N
- i30 N
- Elantra N TCR
The Elantra N TCR, notably the most successful touring car in global motorsport with 10 titles in the 2023 season alone, will be available as the in-game racing vehicle in the upcoming Assetto Corsa EVO game, slated for release in 2025.
Tournament Structure and Prize Pool
The HNVC will consist of multiple competitive stages, offering a total prize pool of $100,000, with the overall winner receiving $20,000. The tournament timeline is as follows:
1. Pre-Qualification Rounds (Online)
- Date: October 21 – November 11
- Details: Top 40 players from each region (Korea, USA, Europe, and China) will be selected, totaling 160 players.
2. Regional Qualification Rounds (Online)
- Date: November 20 – December 1
- Details: Field narrowed to top 20 players per region, totaling 80 players.
3. Regional Semi-Finals (Online)
- Date: December 7 – 15
- Details: Top 5 players from each region selected, totaling 20 players.
4. World Final (Offline)
- Date: January 11, 2025
- Details: The culmination of the tournament where the best racers compete for the grand prize.
Hyundai N’s Continued Commitment to High-Performance Excellence
The introduction of the HNVC builds on Hyundai Motor’s recent successes in high-performance driving. The company celebrated a record fourth consecutive win in the TCR class at the Nürburgring 24H race. Additionally, the global recognition of the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai N’s first high-performance electric vehicle (EV), underscores the brand’s dedication to innovation in both internal combustion engines (ICE) and EVs.
A Unique Opportunity for Fans and Enthusiasts
The HNVC offers Hyundai N brand fans and eSports enthusiasts a unique platform to engage with the brand. By merging the thrill of high-performance driving with the accessibility of sim racing, Hyundai N continues to push the boundaries of automotive experiences.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Hyundai N Virtual Cup and get ready to rev your engines in the virtual world of Assetto Corsa!
