Hyundai is partnering with Bryan Herta Autosport, creating a factory-sponsored race team with its new N performance models to compete in the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Racing (TCR) class. Bryan Herta Autosport will fine-tune two versions of Hyundai’s 350 hp i30 N TCR race cars currently available to customers in Europe. Herta Autosport will develop all aspects of the race team, from vehicles and technicians to drivers, coaching and team management. The driver lineup includes Toronto race car driver Mark Wilkens and Michael Lewis from Laguna Beach, California.

“Hyundai is thrilled about the prospects for our new N branded racing team competing in the Touring Car Racing class of Pirelli World Challenge,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America. “Our new partnership with world-renowned Bryan Herta Autosport and their phenomenal drivers coupled with the proven capabilities of our Hyundai i30 N racers puts us in a great position for success in the 2018 TCR season.”

“We couldn’t be more excited about our new relationship with Hyundai N in this highly competitive manufacturer-based Pirelli World Challenge TCR class,” said Bryan Herta, president and CEO, Bryan Herta Autosport. “Having witnessed the untapped potential of the i30 N TCR race platform for this series, we’re more than confident we can leverage the strength of Hyundai’s racing and performance groups to great success in the 2018 season.”

Click here for the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule

Co-Founded by Bryan Herta in 2009, Bryan Herta Autosport has grown from a single-car Indy Lights team into a world-renowned auto-racing franchise. The team has two Indy 500 wins, in 2011 and 2016 in partnership with Andretti Autosport. In 2015, Bryan Herta Rallysport made its debut in the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship.

The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series launched in 1990 by the Sports Car Club of America. The series consists of seven driver classifications and several classes of vehicles, including: Grand Touring, GT Cup, GTS, TCR, TC and TCA. The series frequently races alongside the IndyCar Series on race event weekends. Each Pirelli World Challenge Touring TCR season consists of six event weekends with doubleheader races for a total of 12 rounds.