Hyundai Motor Company announced today the launch of the 2026 Hyundai N Virtual Cup, the nation’s largest sim racing esports tournament. Designed to bridge virtual gaming with real-world high-performance automotive culture, this major event is hosted in partnership with key domestic institutions, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the G-STAR Organizing Committee.
First inaugurated in 2024, the Hyundai N Virtual Cup has established itself as South Korea’s benchmark sim racing competition—a unique multi-sector collaboration between municipal governments, the gaming industry, and a major automotive manufacturer.
Gran Turismo 7 Chosen as Official Tournament Title
For 2026, the legendary racing simulator Gran Turismo 7 has been selected as the official game platform. Gran Turismo 7 holds high prestige in international esports, having been chosen as an official medal event for the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Demonstrating its commitment to digital motorsports, Hyundai Motor previously supplied official sim racing hardware and equipment during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Korean National Team Selection trials held at Round 1 of the Hyundai N Festival this past May.
Featured Machine: The Iconic Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo
Competitors in the 2026 championship will pilot the Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car as the tournament's official racing machine. Originally unveiled in 2015 to signal the official birth of the high-performance Hyundai N brand, this flagship virtual concept car comes full circle as drivers compete for the virtual crown.
Tournament Structure & Key Stages
The road to the finals begins on August 14 with nationwide online qualifiers. The top 24 drivers will earn spots in the main championship rounds. To widen participation across the gaming community, the tournament will also feature special side competitions, including university student brackets and influencer exhibition races.
Phase 1 — Online Qualifiers
Date: August 14
Details: Top 24 drivers selected nationwide for the main tournament.
Phase 2 — Round 1
Date: September 20
Location: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Seoul
Co-located Event: Seoul Game & Esports Festival (GES)
Phase 3 — Round 2
Date: October 30
Location: Everland Speedway, Yongin
Co-located Event: Hyundai N Festival Season Finale
Phase 4 — Grand Finals
Date: November 22
Location: BEXCO, Busan
Co-located Event: G-STAR International Game Exhibition
1. Round 1 — Seoul (DDP) | September 20, 2026
Held in conjunction with the Seoul Game & Esports Week (GES) at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).
Fan Zone Experience: Hyundai will operate an interactive Hyundai N Sim Racing Experience Zone.
Display Vehicles: Oullim Square at DDP will host an outdoor exhibition featuring high-performance Hyundai N production models alongside actual competition cars from WRC and TCR series.
2. Round 2 — Yongin (Everland Speedway) | October 30, 2026
Co-located with the final race weekend of the Hyundai N Festival.
On-site Activations: Dedicated sim racing experience booths.
Youth Engagement: Features the N e-Festival Junior Cup, a dedicated sim racing event tailored for elementary school students.
3. Grand Finals (Round 3) — Busan (BEXCO) | November 22, 2026
The championship culminates at G-STAR 2026, Asia's premier international game exhibition.
Interactive Showcase: Attendees can experience sim racing simulators, inspect high-performance N road cars and race machines up close, and participate in interactive brand experiences.
Expanding High-Performance Fandom & Esports Competitiveness
Through the 2026 Hyundai N Virtual Cup, Hyundai Motor aims to expand its touchpoints with digital-native generations, foster a global N brand fandom, and elevate the international competitiveness of Korea's gaming and esports ecosystem.
"The Hyundai N Virtual Cup sim racing tournament offers customers an accessible entry point into motorsports while substantially contributing to the spread of high-performance automotive culture in Korea," said JooN Park, Senior Vice President of the Hyundai N Management Sub-Division. "We hope a broader audience can experience the thrill of Hyundai N through the familiar platform of gaming."
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