Yesterday, Hyundai joined Toyota to co-host the Gazoo Racing Festival, held at the Everland Speedway, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. It was a spectacle to behold as both companies showcased not just what’s possible with their cars but allowed consumers to become part of that experience, right there on the track.
Remember when Lexus launched into the US in 1989, beating the Germans to their game and Hyundai, just after that, joined the league of the most reliable brands on the planet?
That was the feel and overall atmosphere that was recreated at the just concluded race; two automakers, coming together to share their love for cars, driving, and the track in the most unique and exciting manner possible: racing.
But, it did not just end there…
A Showcase of (Good) Vehicles
The event also afforded both companies a showcase of their vehicles, inclined for the track and prepped for racing.
Toyota showcased the Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid, the Yaris Rally 2, GR Supra, and the GR86 – all respectable vehicles in their own right.
Hyundai on its end had the IONIQ 5 N Drift, Elantra N, and the i-20 N Rally 1 Hybrid, all impressive on the track in their respectable rights, too.
Displayed, it was a hot session of ‘rubber burning’ and there was no shortage of tire marks on the track.
It’s About the Customer, Not Hyundai or Toyota
However, the event wasn’t all about Toyota or Hyundai. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t about them at all (beyond the fact that they are the manufacturers of these cars).
Rather, it was about the experience, the shared love for cars and racing, and importantly, the sheer joy of driving which these cars epitomize.
To demonstrate this, owners of the legendary Hyundai N model and Toyota GR were given the privilege to drive their own high-performance vehicles on the Speedway to get a feel of a professional-level track.
This unique interactive front also afforded the organizers to allow these owners to test the limits of their vehicles or experience what’s possible from the driver’s seat of their cars.
Attendance, Cheer & Future
As Hyundai joins Toyota in this rare racing event, the cheer and attendance were impressive and well beyond average; the event was also fully booked with just under 3,000 fans of powerful engines, eager to cheer and enjoy themselves in the process.
The event was a herald for what is to come, which is the FORUM8 Rally in Japan, the FIA World Rally Championship (final round) holding from November 21st to 24th in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, Japan.
Is Any LFA Grade Vehicle in the Pipeline?
When Hyundai joins Toyota on the track, there’s to be expected, something interesting in the pipeline.
Could these collaborations and working together bring forth a collaboration on a joint vehicle, something in the grade of the LFA?
Well, fingers crossed; only time will tell.
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Throttle Lan
DIY Mechanic and Freelance Auto Writer