Hyundai Ioniq 5 N to take on Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 2024

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be the center of attention at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 23, 2024.

Hyundai will enter four vehicles in this year's Race to the Clouds: two production cars and two race-modified high-performance electric compact crossovers.

The production models will be driven by Pikes Peak veteran Paul Dallenback and newcomer and former Hoonigan staffer Ron Zaras. They will be chasing a production electric SUV record.

The racing cars will be driven by Pikes Peak veteran Robin Chute and Hyundai rally driver Dani Sordo, both of whom just competed in the Nürburgring 24-hour race a few weeks ago.

The production Ioniq 5 Ns will undergo several modifications for safety reasons. These include the installation of Recaro racing buckets with HANS devices for the driver and a Sabelt six-point harness. The rear seats will also be replaced with a roll cage and fire suppression system. The powertrain, which delivers a maximum output of 641 hp, remains completely stock.

Unlike internal combustion engines, electric vehicles are not affected by the thin air experienced when climbing Pikes Peak, at least as far as the powertrain is concerned; the EV even holds the complete record for the climb; its impressive time of 7 minutes, 57.148 seconds was the fastest time ever recorded in 2018 by Volkswagen's ID.R Time Attack Special set the record.

Hyundai's history on Pikes Peak dates back to 1992, when Rod Millen won the two-wheel drive showroom stock division with a time of 13:21.17 driving a Hyundai Scoupe. The last time Hyundai was represented at the mountain was in 2018, when Jonathan Newcomb entered Tiburon in the TA1 division. However, he failed to start on race day.