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Rhys Millen Brings Home A Win For Hankook At Formula Drift Round Six: After Dark

Millen’s Win Marks Hankook’s Second Victory In The 2011 Formula Drift Series

67 Rhys Millen

Photo by: Regan Morgan

WAYNE, N.J., August, 29, 2011 - Hankook driver Rhys Millen brought home a first place finish for Hankook at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend at Round 6: After Dark of the 2011 Formula Drift season.

Millen, driving his Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe, earned his victory by beating out Darren McNamara in his Saturn Sky to take first place in the sixth round of the Formula Drift season. Millen’s Hankook Hyundai Genesis, which his father Rod Millen recently drove to a first place win in the Time Attack Two-Wheel-Drive class at the 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, performed flawlessly this weekend and powered Rhys to the top of the podium. Millen’s win in Las Vegas comes on the tail of last month’s round five podium finishes by Hankook drivers Chris Forsberg and Fredric Aasbo at Evergreen Speedway in Washington and round four’s win by Hankook driver Conrad Grunewald at Wall Speedway in New Jersey.

“With temperatures above 100 degrees and entry speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, consistent performance and confidence is what the teams were looking for from their tires,” stated Millen. “While other teams tires were only lasting two laps in the blistering heat, the Hankook Ventus R-S3 allowed us to get in four laps and lead us to victory in round six of the Formula Drift championship.”

Competition was fierce, seeing many of the championship’s points leaders failing to reach the top sixteen, allowing the series’ other drivers to compete and tighten the 2011 championship points spread standings.

“This weekend was a true testimony of Hankook’s Extreme Performance Ventus R-S3 tires to perform in demanding conditions,” said Hankook motorsports manager Paul Jho. “Competitors were driving over 100 miles per hour in weather conditions that topped 115 degrees. Rhys Millen came out on top with our Ventus R-S3 tires and gave Hankook its second win of the season.”

Drivers have one more event this season, Round 7: Title Fight, at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale on October 7-8 to give it all they’ve got to see who will come out on top as the 2011 Formula Drift series champion.

2011 marks the eighth year for the Formula Drift series and Hankook's sixth year of involvement. The company garnered enhanced visibility and sales increases in 2010 as a result of its motorsports sponsorships and special racing programs and has multiplied its involvement for 2011 by becoming an official sponsor of Formula Drift. Hankook also supports teams competing in the Redline Time Attack series, Rally Cross and Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

About Hankook Tire America Corp.

Hankook Tire America Corp. is a growing leader in the U.S. tire market, leveraging investments in technology, manufacturing and marketing to deliver high quality, reliable products that are better for consumers and the environment. Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck, SUV tires, as well as medium truck and bus tires to more than 400 independent dealers through 3000+ retail sales locations in the United States.