The long rumoured Hyundai i45 NZ SuperTourer has taken to the track for the first time today at Manfeild Autocourse.

While the car appears to have been completed, it’s understood to not be destined for the NZ SuperTourers – but rather the GT1 series where it will race alongside the likes of Carl Hansen’s TVR and Glenn Smith’s Porsche Crawford Prototype.

The Hyundai was first confirmed to be in development in March 2013, with former SuperTourer team owner Mark Petch making the confirmation online.

“Pace Innovations have now supplied Chassis #22 as a Hyundai i45, and the car is now under construction here in New Zealand. […] I can also say that its a very spectacular looking race car, as those people who have seen the car have all commented,” said Petch at the time.

This confirmation corroborated numerous rumours about the cars existence, which included a blog from fellow team owner Garry Pederson (PSR Racing) which made reference to the new car.

It had been speculated that the car would be run under Petch with his long-time driver Kayne Scott behind the wheel. However this would never come to fruition.

The car was sold earlier this year following its first showcase to the public at the CRC Speedshow in July. At the time it resembled a shell with a number of Hyundai details including taillights and interior panels.

Sold to Wellingtonian John Rongden, it’s believed that the now complete Hyundai is still a SuperTourer under its skin, and would still be eligible for SuperTourer competition.

“Unless John [Rongden] has made changes, which I very much doubt – the car complies in every respect with any other V8ST. The only difference is the bodywork and that has been altered very slightly to fit the standard V8ST Chassis,” said Petch, talking to Velocity NZ earlier today.

“In fact the body required far less cutting and shutting than either the Holden which needs the most shortening and the Ford. The Hyundai required no body shortening, just flaring of the front guards and the rear quarters.”

The Hyundai becomes the second ‘SuperTourer’ to make an appearance outside of the class, following the series prototype’s debut in the Mahindra North Island Endurance Series in the hands of its owner John DeVeth, and his respective co-drivers Paul Manuell, Richard Moore and Glenn Smith.

“I think with comparatively minor tweaking the cars would be very competitive, in both GT and outright endurance racing,” said Petch.

Via Velocity New Zealand