True motor racing fans are called ‘petrolheads’ and they all know, even by heart, the layout of the legendary Nürburgring. The so-called ‘Green Hell’ has witnessed the development of supercar racing cars but it is also the scene of the battle for the hothatch segment, or popularly known as GTIs. It is in this niche of the market that we find, comfortably swimming, the members of Hyundai’s N range , tuned in that same route to the delight of those of us who enjoy driving. The Korean firm is not satisfied with the piece of the compact cake, covered with the i30 N, it also wants to rule in other more incipient ones such as the utility or the sports B-SUV with the i20 N and the Kona N.
Engineers from Namyang (South Korea) follow the same formula: consistent power, ralli chassis and slightly daring design. We have approached the Jarama circuit to check if the incorporations follow the trend of making you smile to the minimum and they have not disappointed us. The formula for success remains the same with which they launched the i30 N, the forerunner, with an easy-to-handle chassis, just enough power for a trackday and a sporty design without being radical . With these factors, the most loyal owners have been cheated, those who even escape to see sections on a ralli weekend like the last one at Rallye Tierra de Madrid.
It is in this environment, that of competition, that Hyundai has been able to develop part of the technology that places it at the level of other competitors such as the Volkswagen group. From its participation in championships such as the WTRC (World Touring Car) or WRC (World Rallis) , experience is extracted to create a docile and sensory car, ideal to enjoy driving without having to invest astronomical sums of money. We recently told you about the Volkswagen R Range and, seeing what we saw in Jarama, the Germans will have to continue working so that this new family of hothatch does not eat the marinated terrain among fans for decades.
