Nurburgring master bringing Hyundai to Sydney

Nurburgring master Misha Charoudin will continue Hyundai’s World Time Attack Challenge history in 2024.

Charoudin will take the high-performance Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to Sydney Motorsport Park this August.

Hyundai’s first appearance at the WTAC was in 2019 when a modified i30 Fastback N entered the Clubsprint class.

In that same year the WTAC provided the backdrop for the global reveal of Hyundai’s iMax ‘Drift Bus’, a 300-plus-kW, twin-turbo V6 skunkworks specially devised and developed by Hyundai Australia’s R&D.

Last year Japanese “Drift King” Keiichi Tsuchiya debuted IONIQ 5 N with a sequence of demonstration laps.

But now in 2024 the car will be put to the ultimate test as it steps into competition as the event’s first ever EV entry.

It will be a lightly modified road car equipped with the mandatory safety equipment and will be prepared by Hyundai Australia.

“Following IONIQ 5 N’s debut at last year’s WTAC, with Keiichi Tsuchiya at the wheel, the logical next step for us is to compete in 2024,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ted Lee.

Misha Charoudin

“We are incredibly excited to strap the capable and charismatic Misha Charoudin into a race-prepared IONIQ 5 N to compete at WTAC in August.”

Behind the wheel will be Charoudin, who is known for creating popular content on YouTube driving around the Nurburgring.

The 34-year-old has been racing since 2011 and has lived at The Green Hell for the last nine years.

But his arrival at WTAC will be a “dream come true.”

“This is a dream coming true. My journey in motorsports began in 2011 when I built and raced a car for the Dutch Time Attack Championship and by 2013, I had the honour of supporting a guest competitor at the WTAC, where I was fascinated by the intense level competition and great organisation of the event,” said Charoudin.

“Ever since the introduction of the i30 N, I’ve been particularly captivated by the Hyundai N models’ incredible performance on the track, including their repeated successes at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

“The IONIQ 5 N, in particular, has impressed me with its remarkable out-of-the-box capabilities – as well as my audience – as its content gathered 1.1 million views on YouTube, over 20 million views on Instagram. It is a privilege to drive the IONIQ 5 N – a car that my followers and I have grown to love – and to represent Hyundai at such a prestigious level.

“Returning to Time Attack racing brings my career full circle, making this moment even more special. I will do my best to showcase the performance and capabilities of the IONIQ 5 N on a global stage.”

The 2024 WTAC will be held from August 30-31.

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