Autosport

HYUNDAI BRINGS THE CAR SWAP INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

Over the years the motorsport world has witnessed its fair share of machine swaps as drivers and riders explore different disciplines. Think seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi famously experiencing their respective 2017-specification Mercedes W08 and 2019 Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1 machines at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo in 2019. Or back in 2003 when Williams F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya exchanged his FW24 with four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon’s ‘rainbow warrior’ Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Montoya would ultimately enjoy an almost-nine-year sojourn in NASCAR, which began four years after the PR stunt.

The concept also included 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button and seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes swapping a McLaren MP4-23 and a Holden VE Commodore to tackle the hallowed Mount Panorama circuit in 2011.

This year Hyundai has embraced this idea but given it a modern twist as motorsport continues its transition into an electric and hybrid-powered future. The

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Autosport

Autosport1 min read
TOCA Junior Chassis Clears Stress Tests
Organisers of the new TOCA Junior series, which is due to join the British Touring Car bill next season, say that the championship has received the support of Motorsport UK’s Race Committee, and the chassis that will be used has passed stringent stre
Autosport2 min read
Net widened for South East Asian GPs
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has added South Korea and Indonesia to Thailand on the list of countries in South East Asia that could host a Formula 1 grand prix in the coming seasons. With F1 satisfied that its three races in the United States – in A
Autosport4 min read
Time To Change The Monaco GP?
Imagine that Max Verstappen had led all 78 laps of Formula 2-like pace in dominating last Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. What saved the weekend was Charles Leclerc’s emotional dream-sealing, wrapped in the tension of historical Ferrari failure there. Th

Related Books & Audiobooks