Hyundai Backs Aussie Star In Daytona TCR Endurance
2025 daytona elantra n tcr 02
Hyundai Australia is stepping up to support its TCR ace for the opening round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Sport Challenge at Daytona International Speedway. The driver will pilot a Hyundai Elantra N TCR for an American squad that has claimed the series crown six years running, tackling the four-hour season opener on the famous 5.7 kilometre Daytona Road Course.
Background And Recent Form
This is not a random bit of motorsport bucket-list fodder. The competitor in question is a two-time national TCR champion and arrives in Florida fresh from a strong TCR World Tour campaign that included wins at Inje Speedium in South Korea and the celebrated Guia Race at the Macau Grand Prix last November. In short, he is in form and carrying momentum.
The Race And Championship
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Sport Challenge is North America’s premier TCR series, spread over ten rounds at some of the continent’s most iconic circuits. Daytona blends high-speed oval sections with a twisty infield, which makes it equal parts terrifying and brilliant. Races in this championship are endurance style by design, run as multi class events with TCR machinery sharing the bill with GT4 cars and crews of up to three drivers per car.
Team Lineup And Role
The American team is defending a remarkable run that included a 1-2 in class at Daytona last year and helped secure the championship. The visiting Australian will join the team’s #33 entry alongside the regular full-season drivers, slotting in as a co-driver for the endurance format. The team principal believes the trio will push each other hard and deliver strong results.
The 30 year old Sydneysider is understandably thrilled. He describes the move as surreal, going from iconic circuits like Macau to the legendary Daytona. He has already been logging hours on the simulator to get a feel for the course. He notes that Daytona requires a different mindset to the short, intense sprint races he’s used to at home and on the World Tour. Endurance racing is about teamwork and consistency, and he says he’ll follow the team’s direction, whether that means being steady and reliable or setting a strong pace to score crucial championship points early in the season.
Event Schedule
The weekend begins with the Roar Before The 24, a three day shakedown on January 16 to 18, followed by official practice sessions and qualifying in the days before the race. Practice sessions run on the Wednesday and Thursday prior, with the four hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Sport Challenge race scheduled for Friday, January 23.
Driver Record
The driver’s TCR résumé runs from 2021 through 2025, with five poles, 34 podiums and nine race victories to his name. He finished as the national TCR champion in consecutive seasons and added high profile TCR World Tour wins in 2025 at Inje and Macau. His world ranking sits comfortably inside the top 20.
The Car
The Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR, marketed as the Elantra N TCR in some territories, is the latest customer racing touring car from Hyundai Motorsport. Launched in 2020 as the successor to previous N TCR models, it quickly proved competitive, helping secure titles in European and global TCR categories and playing a starring role in North American IMSA success.
Technically, the car is a front wheel drive TCR racer based on the road going i30 Sedan N. It is powered by a 1,998 cc turbocharged four cylinder engine developed specifically for Hyundai Motorsport, producing around 257 kW at 7,000 rpm and 450 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. The regulated weight is about 1,265 kg including the driver, and the transmission is a six speed sequential unit with paddle shift. Suspension is fully adjustable, with MacPherson struts up front and a four arm multi link setup at the rear. Braking is handled by six piston front callipers on 380 mm ventilated discs and two piston rear callipers on 278 mm discs. The car runs on 18 inch bespoke alloy wheels shod with Kumho TCR slick tyres and carries a 100 litre fuel tank with a dry break system.
Fans can watch the action live via IMSA channels, including the series YouTube stream.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
