Gabriele Tarquini joins Hyundai Motorsport as TCR project test driver

Hyundai Motorsport has signed Gabriele Tarquini as the lead test driver for the TCR project, which was announced last month. The Italian will work alongside the engineers and designers in the Customer Racing department throughout the development phase of the new car.

Tarquini brings a wealth of experience from a career in motorsport to the project. Over nearly 25 years driving for manufacturer teams in both national and international series at the highest levels of touring car competition, he has established himself as one of the most successful drivers, winning three championships, including the world title in 2009. However, when he begins his testing work with Hyundai Motorsport next month, it will be his first time at the wheel of a car built to the TCR regulations.

Based on the new generation i30 platform, the TCR car is the first design from Hyundai Motorsport for circuit racing, and is the only officially endorsed TCR project from the South Korean manufacturer group. The race version will benefit from the qualities of the road-going model, which itself went through extensive testing, including proving on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife race track, ahead of its launch in September last year.