[TusharK]

J A Motorsport has revealed the first-ever Hyundai i20 N Line rally car for the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC).



The i20 N Line rally car has been built to the new INRC3+ regulations that will be introduced next year. The new class will include production cars powered by turbocharged engines, unlike the current crop of rally cars that use naturally aspirated motors.



To create the i20 N Line rally car, J A Motorsport had to make several changes to the stock machine. On the exterior, the car gets a roof scoop, bonnet clamps and 15-inch rims. Under the skin, it has 3-way adjustable double-piston dampers, a limited-slip differential, a hydraulic jacking system, an aluminium sump guard, composite underbody protection and a fully-welded FIA-grade roll cage.



Inside, the i20 N Line rally car has carbon fibre door pads and a centre console, a navigator footrest, a driver grip pad, FIA-grade Sparco seats, a steering wheel, and seat belts. The car is also equipped with a Stilo intercom to facilitate communication between the driver and navigator.

The i20 N Line rally car is powered by a stock 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. However, J A Motorsport has remapped the ECU so that the engine now produces around 138 BHP. It is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[TejasKinger]

The i20 has been in the WRC rally circuits since 2014, so the fact that it has the right genes to make an INRC debut shouldn't come as a surprise at all.

Contrary to popular belief though, the 2014 i20 wasn't Hyundai's first attempt at rallying in the WRC. Their first attempt was in 1998 when Motor Sport Developments Limited (MSD), a now-defunct privately held firm in Milton Keynes co-developed a short-lived WRC car based on the Hyundai Coupe/Hyundai Tiburon.



PC: Adept Digital

In 1999, again, co-developed by MSD, they unveiled the Accent WRC which raced between the years 2000-2003 after which they exited WRC due to financial constraints.



PC: WRC Wings

In 2012, Hyundai formally established Hyundai Motorsport GmbH in Alzenau, Germany.

In 2014, starting from a clean sheet of paper, Hyundai unveiled the first-ever i20 WRC.



PC: Hyundai Motorsport

In 2016, came an all-new WRC car based on the new generation i20.



PC: Hyundai Motorsport

In 2017, the i20 coupe WRC car entered the fray. This was an evolution from the 5-door i20 to the 3-door i20.



PC: Hyundai Motorsport

2021 saw the entry of the "N" branded cars from Hyundai on the WRC stage.



PC: Hyundai Motorsport

2022 saw Hyundai move the WRC cars to the new-gen Hyundai i20 N. This further was enhanced in 2023 with the Hybrid Hyundai i20 N WRC car as per the latest WRC norms.



PC: Hyundai Motorsport

And now, we have a start closer home in the form of the Hyundai i20 N-line INRC stage 3 car from JA Motorsport.



PC: Autocar India

Here's to putting all that rallying pedigree to good use

[GTO]

Guess this is the 1st time that a Hyundai is being used as a rally car in INRC? If so, wow and well-deserved . The company has come a long way and tunes its suspensions well today. No longer are Hyundais boaty or wallowy; what's more, even their engines & gearboxes are fantastic now. The i20 N-Line is a hell of a lot of fun to drive.