KQ Motor Sports

KQ
Full Name	KQ Motor Sports
Base	Seoul, South Korea
Founder(s)	Several South Korean Businessmen, Hyundai Kia Automotive Group
Team Principal(s)	{{{Team Principals}}}
Technical Director	{{{Technical Director}}}
Current Drivers	Adam Lewis Hagane Shizuka
Other Noted Drivers	{{{Noted Drivers}}}
Debut	2010 German Grand Prix
Races	9
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race Wins	0
Podiums	0
Points	23
Pole Positions	0
Fastest Laps	0

KQ Motor Sports (sometimes shortened to KQ) was a South Korean F1RWRS racing team and constructor, the brainchild of Korean road car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai. The team were mainly known for their hybrid engines, unusual for an open-wheel racing series. Although the team were able to score a few impressive results, such as a top 5 finish in the 2010 F1RWRS German Grand Prix, a few top 5 qualifying positions and a handful of laps led in the hands of Hagane Shizuka and Adam Lewis, poins were almost always relatively minor, and the team finished joint-last in the constructors' championship with 23 points. This lack of results dissuaded drivers from joining the team, who had to bow out of the F1RWRS at the end of its inaugural season.

History

KQ Motor Sport was originally created by a small group of South Korean businessmen, however they quickly managed to gain funding from Hyundai and Kia. However, the two automotive companies never supplied anything to the team until they entered the F1RWRS. They ran a Koenig GT in the GT Tuning Cup, often running at the front. They also competed in the Palmer Jaguar Series, but a lack of results meant that they didn't last long. KQ is also one of the most sought after drives in the lowest F1RWRS feeder category at the time (before advent of F3RWRS), the GT Light International Cup, having won the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 championships. This success led many to believe that they would be successful in the F1RWRS.

For 2010, KQ managed to convince Hyundai to produce a hybrid system to power their car, and got Kia to build the chassis. They signed Hagane Shizuka to the team, however they could not get a second driver until shortly before the German GP, signing Adam Lewis. Results were rare, with the highlight being 5th for Shizuka at Germany. Only once did KQ have both drivers in the top 10, at Britain. Part way through the season, Kia broke its ties with the team, leaving them short on money and unable to develop their chassis. Hyundai soon followed. This meant they had no money, no car or engine, and no drivers, after Lewis retired and Shizuka went to West Cliff Racing. Their F1RWRS effort was over, and they very nearly had to give up on their other teams as well.

A number of executives formerly involved with KQ later went to the multinational Team Asia which was later bought by Japanese veteran driver Kazuhiko Takagi to form the F3RWRS arm of Takagi Racing Enterprises. Kia/Hyundai group later returned to (reject) racing in the 2015 Formula One Rejects Microprose Grand Prix Series season, albeit not using the hybrid engine. These engines willl be used by FIRST Racing and Polestar Racing (not to be confused with the Formula Atlantic team or Luke Knight's Pole Star Racing Team, which is now Plus One Group) using the Kia and Volvo badge respectively.

F1RWRS Results

Year	Chassis	Engine	#	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Points	CC
2010	KQ K-2010	Hyundai Theta III/H			GER	LUX	SAX	CHN	TAS	BHR	BEL	GBR	AUS	=9th	23
			6	Adam Lewis	16	6	15	16	9	17	6	10	9
			7	Hagane Shizuka	5	19	14	18	11	19	15	9	18