Hyundai calls time on TCR Germany support

Hyundai Germany has confirmed that factory support for teams in TCR Germany will cease ahead of the 2022 season.

Team Engstler has run with Hyundai support in the series for a number of seasons, taking the title with Max Hesse, Antti Burri and Luca Engstler in the last three years.

Engstler has already announced a switch from Hyundai to Honda for the new campaign, although it will support the ROJA Motorsport team as it expands to run three i30 Ns.

“It is of course a shame when such a successful project comes to an end,” Franz Engstler said. “We have moved a lot together and have always worked together in a goal and success-oriented way.

“The relationship with Hyundai Germany was not only harmonious on a business level, but also on a social level. As a team, we secured all the titles that were there to be won in the series. I would like to thank you for the great co-operation of the last few years and would not miss a second of it.”

The end of factory support for the series means that the VIP car programme that saw the likes of Gabriele Tarquini and Thierry Neuville take on guest drives will also come to an end.

“We would like to thank the entire team of Engstler for the successful collaboration,” Jürgen Keller Managing Director of Hyundai Motor Deutschland GmbH, said.

“Over the past four years, the team in ADAC TCR Germany has impressively demonstrated the performance of our Hyundai i30 N TCR with three driver titles and two team titles. We wish the Allgäu team much success in their future endeavours.”

Hyundai insists it will focus on the WRC and the FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup for 2022, although a spokesperson has confirmed that plans are ongoing for the Elantra N TCR to continue in the World Touring Car Cup.

“We are working to have Hyundai cars on the grid for both WTCR and ETCR,” he told TouringCarTimes.

“The number of cars, the identity of the teams, and the drivers will be confirmed when we make a formal announcement at later date.”