‘Hyundai Motor Club’ amateur racing team, Team HMC

I think we should stop with the preconception that motor sports is for the wealthy, that it’s just sports for a ‘few people’ because here we have Team HMC, which is doing very well in the amateur motor sports. Team HMC is an amateur racing team created by ‘Hyundai Motor Club’ members. How did regular joes who were simply interested in Hyundai Motor Company become the members of a racing team? We met with Team HMC and listened to their story.

Team HMC, which was established in 2017, has been contributing to the popularization of motor sports for 3 years and running.

The day we met with Team HMC was the 8th, which was the opening of Hyundai N Festival 5R held in Inje Speedium, Gangwon-do. Hyundai N Festival is the biggest motor sports festival in Korea, created to popularize motor sports. It holds the biggest one-make races (race held for a single type of vehicle) with Morning, Avante Sports, and Veloster N. It’s a motor festival for everyone as the minimum tuning cost and consumable costs according to the price and regulation of each production car are relatively lower than other motor sports.

A racing team that was created with the belief ‘we can do it.’

Winning the Hyundai N Festival, a one-make race where players all race with the same vehicle specifications, depends on the player’s capacity and vehicle conditions.

Entering the 18 pit (race car inspection area prepared in the racing circuit) where Team HMC is, we noticed someone much before we noticed the Avante and Veloster N with the Team HMC stickers. It was Team Leader Kim Joo-hyun who was going around the pit shouting and encouraging the players. Team Leader Kim Joo-hyun, who is also the manager of Hyundai Motor Company community, ‘Hyundai Motor Club’, has been the team leader of Team HMC since its establishment in 2017 and is a trustworthy protector of Team HMC.

“As we started out as an automobile community, our members were always very much interested in motor sports. But with a lack of information access and high entrance barrier, there were a lot of members who didn’t know how to enjoy motor sports. I thought that with the platform that would allow the club members to participate in motor sports themselves, it would increase the interest in motor sports and let everyone enjoy the sports together. So in 2017, with a few like-minded members, I started Team HMC.”

Team HMC has 2 supporters that back 1 player.

Team HMC started in 2017 with 6 drivers. They help with the amateur racers to get into motor sports though Hyundai Avante Cup Challenge Race. Team HMC’s 1st generation that started pompously definitely made its mark in the amateur motor sports when they won the 2017 Hyundai Avante Challenge Race. The interest from the motor sports industry towards Team HMC has also grown significantly.

“With the help of the 1st generation’s great performance, Team HMC’s 2nd generation not only entered the Avante Challenge Cup but also the semi-professional competition, Masters Race. This year, the 3rd generation is competing in the new Veloster N Cup Challenge and Masters both. Drivers tune their car according to the race regulations on their own and are practicing endlessly. The level of their passion is astounding.”

There now is a member who started from the club, became a Team HMC supporter and then a racing team player.

This year there is a special player; it’s player Lee Sang-won who was a member of the Hyundai Motor Club and who became a supporter for Team HMC’s 2nd generation as his interest in motor sports grew and this year became a driver. Player Lee Sang-won got great results from 5th round of Avante Challenge Cup finals, held on the 8th. Team Leader Kim Joo-hyun said that the model case of operating Team HMC was player Lee Sang-won.

“The case of player Lee Sang-won, who started as a Hyundai Motors Club member, became a Team HMC supporter and then through the Hyundai driving academy improved his driving skills to become a Team HMC player, is very good news for the motor sports industry. It’s a model case that shows that anyone with interest can enjoy motor sports. I think this is the raison d’etre of Team HMC.”

Players who have been consistently participating in races since 2017 have been improving their capacity and are the very trustworthy rocks of Team HMC.

There’s also a player who has participated in all 6 races held in a season since the team’s 1st generation, representing Team HMC. To many people he’s well known as a comedian; it’s player Yang Sang-gook. Player Yang Sang-gook started with the 1st Avante Cup Challenge and is now participating in the Veloster N Cup Challenge, which starts this year, showing what great passion he has for motor sports. As much as he is enthusiastic about motor sports, he is also an outstanding driver.

“I also got into motor sports with Team HMC. I was interested but didn’t know where to start. Through Team HMC, I was able to get to know more about motor sports, and it is thrilling to have something I can be passionate about aside from my job. While preparing for this race, I found out how Veloster N is such a great car for an amateur to get into motor sports. With reasonable price and excellent functions, this would be the best option for you to experience the excitement of motor sports. If you are interested in motor sports but don’t know how to get into it, join the Hyundai Motor Club.”

Player Sang-gook won the Veloster N Cup Challenge 5R.

Player Yang Sang-gook, who got through the previous Veloster N Cup Challenge preliminaries in 1st place, won the Veloster N Cup Challenge 5R and stood on top of the podium. It was most memorable as it was his first victory since debuting in motor sports. And when he won his first cup, Team HMC was by his side. Player Yang got much congratulations from the Team Leader Kim Joo-hyun, the supporters, and the cheerleaders.

Great passion and superb team work as good as any pro team

Team HMC is consisted of players, supporters, mechanics, exclusive models, and all Hyundai Motor Club members.

Team HMC now has a firm standing in the amateur motor sports world, but it went through some tough times. At first, amateur racing had doubts about being a team as most were participating as individuals. There were some skeptical people, especially when the team became the season champion in its first year of establishment, but Team HMC broke down all bias in motor sports with their sincerity.

“We don’t want just for us to shine. It’s up to us to make motor sports something for everyone. We cheered for all other players even when some of them were not so friendly towards us. When they had difficulties, we had our mechanics (vehicle inspection manpower) help out too. Our innocent passion moved others eventually. Now there are many applicants who wish to join our team and other amateur racing teams similar to us. It’s all great for motor sports.”

Anyone can visit the Hyundai driving academy and improve their driving skills.

It mustn’t have been easy to carry on Team HMC for 3 years with just regular people who work in various fields, including office workers, businessmen, comedian, researchers, etc. What would be the reason to continue to lead Team HMC without a doubt? Team HMC’s representative player Yang Sang- gook says that the family like atmosphere of Hyundai Motor Club and a great teamwork from Team HMC is the answer.

“Whatever sports you play, if you have people cheering you on, you would get the motivation to do better. Team HMC race always involves Hyundai Motor Club members who come to the race with their family to cheer you on. Average of 50 people will come to any race. Even though this is not such an accessible sport and it’s not so popular, they come and cheer us on as if we are their family. I’m always so grateful. Pro team players who come on as guest drivers are also surprised by the size of our team and our supporters. Team HMC often does volunteer work with Hyundai Motor Club members and get together frequently. The tight rapport we have, going through ups and downs in life together, is what I believe to be the reason behind Team HMC’s steady operation.”

Supporters help the player perform his/her best race.

Supporters are also a big part of Team HMC. The passion of these supporters who help out the driver in many aspects without any economic compensation in return is a big driving force that keeps Team HMC going. Without the exclusive models who are considered the best in the industry, supporters who support the drivers to the fullest, and mechanics who are working hard to assure safe driving and optimum vehicle conditions, Team HMC wouldn’t be here. Supporter Choi Byung-yong, a 3rd generation supporter, says his entry barrier towards motor sports completely broke down through his Team HMC activities.

“Supporters are like the drivers’ the other halves. They tell you how the race if going via radio and help the driver to get through the race in optimum condition. They also promote Team HMC on SNS channels as well. I also plan to start out as a driver. I found out that participating and enjoying motor sports is not at all difficult through Team HMC activities.”

Until the second and third Team HMCs come along

Based on their firm teamwork, Team HMC maintains a great performance in amateur motor sports races.

Great atmosphere leads to great performance, of course. Team HMC’s 3rd generation is doing well in the Hyundai N Festival. Player Shin Sol-chan who made it to the main race in Veloster N Cup Challenge 4R held on August 11th made it to 3rd place while player Lee Jae-sik who participated in the Masters got 4th place.

“Some members started as players, and some came to races to cheer; they slowly got immersed into motor sports. Team HMC is like a gift to Hyundai Motor Club members, as it feels like a second family. Team HMC will continue to do whatever necessary to contribute to the popularization of motor sports.”

Until the day motor sports becomes a household name, Team HMC will continue to race on.

Team HMC made us realize that motor sports is no longer ‘sports for only a few’ who are well off. If you wish to get into motor sports, knock on Team HMC’s doors. First, if you want to experience what motor sports is, you can visit the Hyundai N Festival 6R which will take place in October. You will be able to see the players race, and there will be various motor sports events for the general public. Please stay tuned and cheer for Team HMC, who will continue to strive hard until the second and third Team HMCs to come along.

Photography by Han Jeong-soo, Choi Byung-yong (Team HMC’s 3rd generation supporters)