Subaru vs Hyundai Set For Showdown at 2026 Nürburgring 24h

TL;DR

Subaru and Hyundai are set to compete at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours race, with Subaru entering the SP 4T class and Hyundai debuting its Elantra N1 RP race car. This marks a significant shift as Hyundai will provide direct factory-backed competition against Subaru.

Key points

Subaru enters the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours race in SP 4T class
Hyundai is debuting the Elantra N1 RP race car in the same class
Hyundai has previously dominated the TCR class at the Nürburgring
The Elantra N1 Cup Car faced race damage in 2025 and did not finish

Elantra N1 RPSTI WRX NBRSubaruHyundai Motorsports

2025 Hyundai Avante N1 Cup Car / 2026 STI WRX NBR

Subaru is gearing up for another year at the famed Nürburgring 24 Hours race, but this year things will be different. Although Subaru is once again entering the SP 4T class the brand has dominated, unlike previous years, for 2026 there will be direct factory-backed competition. This year Hyundai Motorsports is entering the brand's Elantra N1 RP race car in that class as well.

Much like Subaru, Hyundai Motorsports has long dominated at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, but in the more hardcore TCR class with the Elantra N TCR. Last year Hyundai further expanded the Motorsports' program to include an Elantra N1 Cup Car in the SP 3T class. Also called the Elantra N1 TC Evo or Avante N1 Cup car, the Hyundai suffered race damage during the 2025 24 hour race and did not finish.

2025 Hyundai Avante N1 Cup Car

This year, Hyundai Motorsport N has a pair of entries that are the latest iteration of that car, called the Elantra N1 RP, now competing in the SP 4T class. The only other entrant? The factory-backed Subaru Technica International (STI) WRX.

For those unfamiliar, the SP 4T class is for production-based cars with turbocharged engines ranging from 2.0-liters to 2.6-liters in size. Of course, they undergo various racing upgrades, but nothing as severe as a TCR, GT4, or GT3 race cars.

The Nürburgring 24 Hours race looks to have 137 entries in nearly two dozen classes. Although the headline-stealing divisions are the SP9 (GT3 cars) and SP10 (GT4 cars), we'll be keeping an eye on SP 4T as well. The 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours will take place from May 14–17, 2026.

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Q&A

What cars are Subaru and Hyundai entering in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours race?

Subaru is entering the 2026 STI WRX NBR in the SP 4T class, while Hyundai is debuting the Elantra N1 RP race car in the same class.

How has Hyundai's performance been at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race?

Hyundai has historically dominated the TCR class with the Elantra N TCR, but faced challenges last year with the Elantra N1 Cup Car, which did not finish the race due to damage.

What is the significance of factory-backed competition in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race?

Factory-backed competition increases the stakes and resources available for teams, potentially leading to more intense rivalry and higher performance standards in the race.