Hyundai IONIQ 5 N EV to race up Pikes Peak this weekend

Hyundai Motor will be entering the 103^rd Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in America this weekend with an IONIQ 5 N. Its entry will be with Evasive Motorsports which had an earlier presence in the event’s EV class with a modified Tesla Model 3 in 2022.

This new collaboration is Evasive Motorsports’ most ambitious EV project to date, and the team will be supported by Hyundai Motor’s technological resources and record-setting experience from last year.

Aiming to break 10-minute barrier
“Our goal is to break the elusive 10-minute barrier,” said Mike Chang, co-founder and CEO of Evasive Motorsports. “We’ve come close in the past and feel it’s far more achievable with the IONIQ 5 N. We’re confident our driver is equipped with the tools and support needed to deliver a strong finish this year.”

The performance specialist has unlocked the potential of the high-performance fully electric model which is officially referred to as the Evasive Motorsports Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Pikes Peak. Its engineers have  optimized the car’s performance wherever possible, particularly in terms of chassis and aerodynamic tuning, as well as weight savings.

Weight reduction
Besides drawing on key learnings from its Model 3 racing car, the team has prioritized tuning the IONIQ 5 N in terms of downforce and weight savings, since the electric motors can’t be tuned. Its in-house EVS Tuning division has successfully shaved 227 kgs from the 2,205-kg car by stripping the interior and fabricating 4 doors and the tailgate from carbonfibre.

One of the biggest challenges was sourcing competition parts since very few exist. However, several partners and suppliers stepped up to provide or produce what was needed. Voltex Japan, for example, provided its expertise in crafting one-off aero-enhancing components:

“With a short timeframe before the race, we sent a 3D scan of the IONIQ 5 N to Voltex, allowing them to design and produce the aero parts we need,” Chang explained. “In the past, they would have sent a designer over from Japan, but now they can do everything from 3D files.”

To facilitate rapid wheel and tyre changes, and to prevent potential damage to the Voltex bodywork, the Evasive team installed Krontec air jacks. These will allow easy removal of the lightweight forged 19×11 Titan 7 T-P10 racing wheels fitted with carbonfibre EVS Tuning aero discs. The Hyundai will run on wide, sticky 310/690 VR19 Yokohama A005 racing slicks.

Additional modifications include prototype EVS Tuning anti-roll bars front and rear, a custom 6-point rollcage fabricated by Eimer Engineering, plus one-off Moton coil-over suspension designed by Mike Kojima from MotoIQ to help keep the chassis planted along the course’s 156 turns.

For his part, co-founder and President of Evasive Motorsports Tony Kwan can’t wait to see the Hyundai in action. “This is our tenth attempt at Pikes Peak and we’re incredibly proud to have been one of the first tuner shops to compete in the historic event. And coming full circle, we’re delighted to have Rob Walker back behind the wheel this year. Rob drove the first four years we competed and it feels like a family reunion!” he said.

About the Pikes Peak Hill Climb
PPHC is the second oldest motorsport event in the USA. The route was originally gravel so the surface was loose, making for a lot of dramatic cornering with cars that didn’t yet have all-wheel drive. From 2002, paving of the route began and was completed in 2011. While this meant better grip for the cars, technology had also advanced to raise engine output and they had become much faster so there was still dramatic cornering. However, all-wheel drive reduced the heart-stopping drifts at the ‘open-air’ corners.

The route up Pikes Peak is very challenging and over the 20 kms, the drivers will have to mke no less than 156 turns. The starting point is at about 2,860 metres above sea level (Genting Highlands is 1.865 metres) and by the time the car reaches the top, it will have ascended to 4,300 metres.

In the first ‘Race to the Clouds’ (as the hillclimb has been known) in 1916, the time taken was 20 minutes 55 seconds. In 2018, Romain Dumas rocketed a fully electric Volkswagen ID.R to the top in 8 minutes 53 seconds, which remains the fastest time.

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