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STANDINGS
FEATURE
Hyundai’s new baby
is growing up
The development programme of the
Hyundai i30 N TCR is moving on
through several test sessions and the
future participation in the 24H
Misano race on 8th and 9th July.
During the recent test at Valencia we
had the opportunity to talk to Andrea
Adamo and Gabriele Tarquini, key
figures in Hyundai Motorsport’s first
ever programme for circuit racing.
Adamo
, Hyundai Motorsport Customer
Racing manager, started by saying:
“We are pleased with the way the
development programme is going
ahead. So far we have been able to
meet the schedule and targets we set,
building towards the number of
kilometres we want to cover before
considering the development
finalised.”
What are the areas you are working
on?
“It is important to bear in mind
that this car is for customer racing.
Reliability was our first target and
then came performance. Before starting
the test programme, we ran the engine
on the bench during two 48-hour
sessions with excellent results. As for
the track testing, we are focusing on
performance and drivability.”
What are the other aspects that can
make this programme successful?
“A topic that we took into
consideration ever since the design
phase was the ease in maintaining the
car. It is very important to make
things easy and accessible for the
crews that will be working on the car.
Another crucial point is the support we
can provide to the teams. They must
be aware that, should a problem arise,
someone will be there to assist them
and help them to solve it. This is what
makes a customer racing programme
successful.
”
What does it mean having Tarquini
as test driver?
“When we were given
the go ahead, he was one of the very
first people I approached. We had
worked together for many years on
different projects. Not only has he
amassed an incomparable experience
in Touring Cars, he has also built for
himself an image of competence and
professionalism. To know that Tarquini
has developed the car gives the
customer a further guarantee. On top
of this, he’s able to approve or turn
down technical solutions after only a
few laps in the car. He definitely gives
an added value to the programme.”
Did you set a goal in terms of the
number of TCR cars you want to
sell?
“Yes, we did, by assessing the
current market. Hyundai Motorsport
Customer Racing is a beginner in the
business and we are entering the
market with humility. We want to
create a portfolio of happy customers
with a growing trend.”
Do you plan to race the car before
the end of the year
?
“Yes, we reckon
this is the final part of the technical
development. We are considering
different options, but we have not yet
decided when and where.”
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ANDREA ADAMO AND GABRIELE TARQUINI
TALK ABOUT THE I30 N TCR