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The Nth Degree Experience



Rojer

ClioSport Club Member
Today was a good day! Some of you may of seen a Hyundai driving experience advertised online, i applied and managed to get one of the 500 spots available. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the day, but it was at Millbrook (which is local to me) and i have never been before. Turned up this afternoon and the event was being held in the same place they used to film Fifth Gear which was cool! Hyundai had made an effort. We had a nice free lunch with a few options for food, we were given an iPod for tasks we were going to be doing and they strapped a fitbit to your arm to monitor your heartbeat. We had a quick briefing about the plan for the day and a competition was mentioned (i will come back to that). So first task was to be blind folded and touch certain bits of the car and shout them out, next was a tech challenge based on the cars gadgets and finally we got to rev the nuts off one to make it pop and crack on the overrun. All pretty straight forward so far! Now into the cars, Hyundai had a good 10-12 cars with quite a few pro drivers. We were taken onto the Alpine Handling Circuit, for those who don't know many films and famous chases/accidents have been filmed there, like Casino Royale. Once the instructor done a lap it was my turn, i have to say the circuit is like the perfect B road. So technical and challenging, it was great fun for my first experience driving the car. After that it was a 0-60 challenge on the straight, but we were able to go up to about 130mph. I managed 5.9 seconds which was the fastest of the day. You only get one chance and you don't know what to expect so i just went with what i thought, we weren't allowed to use launch control either. The final task i would carry out would be to drive onto the high speed bowl and push the car to about 130mph for a couple of laps. Something i didn't expect was for it to play with your perspective, my eyes couldn't make their mind up! Finally it was some hot laps from the pros and damn they can drive, the car performed fantastic! Finally it was back inside for another chat and the bonus round... It was an optional chili challenge, but i wanted the points as someone at Hyundai told me i was winning! I do not deal with hot food well at all, but i had a viper naga chili and it was brutal! So to the final scores and somehow i managed to win the whole bloody thing! The prize is one of those money can't buy experiences and for some even a bucket list opportunity. I am very lucky to be going to the WRC GB and to be the co pilot in Hyundai's WRC car! So excited, was not expecting to win anything! I got some other nice merch as well and got to meet some nice new people and have a chat.

I must say a massive thank you to Hyundai for putting on such an event, which was free and for the amazing prize, opportunity to drive their car and to be allowed into the legendary Millbrook proving ground. My thoughts on the car? Well i will be going to the dealer on Monday for a chat!

Don't have too many photos unfortunately, but will still share.

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  535d / t5 caravelle
Sounds like a cracking day fella, from a quick glance I thought they where focus rs’s!
 

Clio_fool

ClioSport Club Member
Sounds like a great experience and a good publicity exercise for hyundai N. Congrats on the WRC ride, that will be a thrill and you WILL need to take more pics!
 

CrippsCorner

ClioSport Club Member
  Astra VXR
Wicked man well done! I applied for this myself but the website crashed on every attempt so gave up in the end :( saw quite a few PistonHeads folk won a place.
 

Rojer

ClioSport Club Member
Thanks guys for all the positive remarks. I just read on PistonHeads that Hyundai are revising the suspension for the 2019 model and fitting hydraulic bump stops. The suspension was the only bit that needs changing really so i think i might wait until then to get one :)
 

massiveCoRbyn

ClioSport Club Member
  Several
A ride in WRC car? I think I hate you!

Sounds a really great day. The i30 N is really appealing I must say. Would really like to try one.
 

Rojer

ClioSport Club Member
Interesting about the suspension, I wonder if they have had their hands on a new Meg RS?

Well they say it comes from listening to feedback from customers, but I'm sure they had the megane in mind. It has a far superior setup to the i30n and it's passive.
 

Rojer

ClioSport Club Member
Today was the day! Woke up nice and early, picked up my mate, fueled up and set off on the long drive to Wales. Didn't realise that the lunch spot was actually a couple of miles down the road from Evo Triangle so that was nice surprise. Once lunch was done it was time to head over to the main event. It was actually held at the visitor center on the Evo Triangle so it was a bit weird seeing the whole crew and the car in the car park. Once i signed my life away i was suited and strapped in. A nice touch Hyundai did was to stick each drivers name on the car. We also got a nice goody bag and a video of the action.

I guess you want to know what it was like? Well it was f**king epic! Haydon Paddon who is a works driver for the team is a genius behind the wheel. The speed of the thing on gravel and the angle through the turns was just insane. Probably the best experience i have had in a car. The stage we did was actually from the Friday of the GB Rally. It was also very surreal being in that car on public roads legally ha. Once it was done and i had calmed down we just finished off the Evo Triangle circuit and headed back home. Fantastic day and a massive thanks to Hyundai Motorsport and Haydon for his skills behind the wheel.

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Panda.

ClioSport Club Member
  850 T5
That is epic!!!

Seen a few of these about, most recently a red one which was quite subtle but sounded lovely!!
 
  RB 182 FF
I was a part of the i30N experience too and was blown away by the car.

It's the perfect only car IMO, very agile and capable on track in "N mode" whilst still being comfortable to use daily in it's Normal setting.

Congratulations on winning, looked like an unreal experience!
 

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shiftspark

ClioSport Club Member
  R53 GR86
That’s a once in a lifetime experience, Paddon is very skilled behind the wheel and comes across as a nice guy as well ?
 

Twingo 1??

ClioSport Club Member
  Twingo 133 Cup,
Wow that's definitely a once in a lifetime experience! I rally abit not very well but I am amazed when you look at the front runners videos on YouTube and you think f**k that! After doing the same stage. The speed the top level guys have is mind blowing.
 

Darren S

ClioSport Club Member
Sounds like a superb experience - and fair play to Hyundai for getting their brand as a whole, massively more appealing. How many of us on here would have even contemplated an Hyundai a decade ago? Yet the cars such as the i30N and the manufacturers' efforts within rallying make them so much more desirable.
 

Rojer

ClioSport Club Member
Wow, what an experience. LOL at your giggles!

All i could do was laugh it was funny and scary at the same time, especially over the jump!

Sounds like a superb experience - and fair play to Hyundai for getting their brand as a whole, massively more appealing. How many of us on here would have even contemplated an Hyundai a decade ago? Yet the cars such as the i30N and the manufacturers' efforts within rallying make them so much more desirable.

Very true, i would of never considered a Hyundai or a Kia 10 years ago, but things have changed and they have really upped their game. Would like to consider a 130N once i got a house sorted.
 

Philip.

ClioSport Club Member
  VRS 245
Could have been on that day too, but Hyundai are one of the worst companies I’ve dealt with. So bad that I sacked off the I30N and went with Seat.

WRC experience looked amazing though!
 


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