The 2025 season marked an exciting new chapter for touring car competition in North America with the launch of the Hyundai N Trophy Cup, a series-within-a-series built to spotlight Hyundai’s growing footprint in paddocks internationally. Debuting with a doubleheader at Circuit of the Americas, the new championship added an extra layer of competition for Hyundai drivers and teams across four TC America events and quickly established itself as a compelling addition to the weekend schedule.
Across the inaugural calendar, which included stops at COTA, Sebring International Raceway, Barber Motorsports Park, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hyundai entrants battled not only for overall TC America results but also for top honors as the highest-finishing Hyundai in each round. With a mix of doubleheader and tripleheader formats, the Hyundai N Trophy Cup showcased consistent depth and action within the brand’s competitive lineup, featuring a mix of full-season and rotating entrants.
At the end of the year, it was Ricca Autosport’s Connor Attrell who was awarded the first-ever Hyundai N Trophy Cup championship. Driving the No. 75 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO, Attrell’s performances across all designated rounds earned him the top Hyundai honors. His championship also comes with a unique international opportunity: an invitation to race in the final round of the 2025 Hyundai N Festival in South Korea, competing against regional Hyundai N Cup champions from across the globe.
Another major initiative introduced for 2025 was the Hyundai N Racing Scholar, an award designed to identify and support emerging talent within the TC America paddock based on both on-track achievements and off-track professionalism. This year’s inaugural Hyundai N Racing Scholar honor was awarded to CJ Sepulveda, driver of the No. 79 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO, marking a significant milestone in his developing career. Furthermore, he will be granted a coveted opportunity to compete in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hour endurance race with Hyundai.
Hyundai further strengthened the competition through its 2025 Contingency Program, rewarding top finishers in both TC America and the Hyundai N Trophy Cup. TC America competitors driving Hyundai machinery earned payouts of $4,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third, while the Hyundai N Trophy Cup awarded $1,500 to the top-finishing Hyundai at each of its dedicated rounds.
The program also featured significant end-of-season bonuses. Ricca Autosport claimed the Hyundai Manufacturer Championship and its accompanying $5,000 award, reinforcing the team’s standout year. Team owner and driver Jeff Ricca collected $10,000 in prize earnings for winning the TC America Driver Championship, further cementing his status as one of the category’s benchmarks. The Hyundai N Trophy Cup Champion bonus added another $5,000 to Attrell’s season, with the same amount being given to CJ Sepulveda as the Hyundai N Racing Scholar.
In its debut year, the Hyundai N Trophy Cup delivered tight competition, meaningful support for teams and drivers, and a global pathway unique within North American touring car racing. With strong participation and Hyundai’s continued commitment, the championship has quickly become an integral part of the TC America landscape, and is poised for even greater momentum in the seasons ahead.
