Hyundai Ioniq 5 N racing class has a special trick

When you’re standing next to the track at an F1 race, you have to have good ears if you want to hear the roar of the engine when Max Verstappen is around. For electric racing cars this should be impossible, you might say. But not in the new Ioniq 5 N racing class, where the race car sounds different for each team. The new runner is called the Ioniq 5 N eN1.

Just like the street models, the racing cars get the so-called N Active Sound. “Each racing team has the opportunity to develop its own unique sound,” Hyundai says. We are eager to see what the teams come up with. Anyone have an Ioniq 5 N that sounds like a Mazda 787B? Or like Hyundai’s stuttering pony?

Also fake conversion in Hyundai Ioniq 5 N eN1

The speaker is not the only artificial part of the Ioniq 5 N eN1: the racer also imitates the gear changes of a petrol car. Although teams will no doubt disable this function if they have the option: we suspect it won’t make the car accelerate.

In addition to funny tricks, the Ioniq 5 N has been made a little lighter: from 2,125 kg to 1,970 kg. Removed are all parts that are not needed during the race. The EN1 also gets bucket seats, a wider body kit, a custom splitter, rear wing and flaps. In addition to the racing sound that comes from the EV, race teams can play with adjustable springs, ride height and camber.

Details of cars in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N racing class

Hyundai does not make any changes to the Ioniq 5 N. There are still two electric motors: one that sends 226 hp to the front axle and one to the rear axle with 383 hp of power. The same 84-kWh battery is also used. This can be fully charged from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes with 350 kW of charging power. It is unclear what the modifications do to the 0-100 time and top speed.

Teams can choose their supplier for 18-inch tires. The first eN1 season opens on April 27 with a practice session at the Inje Speedium in South Korea. This season serves as a test for Hyundai to find out what goes well with electric racing. Will you watch?