Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing renew Pikes Peak partnership

Colorado Springs - It’s 13 degrees in Colorado Springs today, but the news that Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record-holder Rhys Millen will return for the 91st running of America’s second-oldest motor sports race warmed things up at the event’s headquarters.

#67 Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Rhys Millen

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Hyundai has announced its renewed partnership with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to defend its 2012 record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). This years' race to the internationally-renowned summit of America’s Mountain is set for June 30.

The event was recently named seventh among the world’s toughest motor sports race bt the site jalopnik.com

On June 30, Hyundai will expand its presence at Pikes Peak with a two-car effort, with Millen piloting a new, purpose-built unlimited class rear-drive racecar joined by the production-based Genesis Coupe that set last years' all-time record to the peak (9:46.164). This auto will be piloted by Pikes Peak veteran star Paul Dallenbach (Basalt, Colorado), who has won six times on the Peak in the past in the Open Wheel division, sponsored by Famous Dave’s Barbeque and the Double Eagle Casino.

"We're certainly proud to renew our successful partnership with Rhys Millen Racing to take on the unique challenge of international motorsports known as Pikes Peak," said Steve Shannon, vice president, marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "Last year's all-time world record, set by Millen in the production-based Genesis Coupe, was a defining milestone in Hyundai's quest to build thrilling and durable rear-drive performance vehicles that are as capable on the road as they are in the rigors of competitive motorsport."

TWO-CAR EFFORT

For 2013, Millen will produce and drive an all-new, ultra-lightweight, purpose-built racecar using major power train components from Hyundai's production-based Lambda engine family in the Unlimited division. This power train is expected to produce over 900 h.p. and 800 ft. lbs. of torque, while still making significant use of production components including the block, cylinder heads, bearings and engine accessories. The racecar chassis will be enveloped by a Genesis Coupe-like silhouette to compete in the unlimited class.

This no-holds-barred racer will be accompanied by last years' world-record- setting, production-based Genesis Coupe in the Time Attack 2WD class, driven by Dallenbach. RMR is a truly unique racing firm, one of the very few which successfully conceptualizes, fabricates, tests, tunes, and most importantly, drives its vehicles in motorsports competition. In fact, the world-record-setting Genesis Coupe is the exact same production-based coupe that Millen successfully drifted in the Formula Drift competitive series, a testament to both the extreme durability of Hyundai engineering as well as the tuning versatility of the RMR team.

Get Tickets Now

Fans of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb can purchase tickets now for the June 30, 2013 race and assure themselves a spot on the Peak for what promises to be the best in the event’s long and storied history.

General admission seats are priced at $40.00 each, and the popular Family Four-Pack is priced at $135.00 when purchased in advance.

Tickets may be purchased on the PPIHC official website: www.ppihc.com

Camping permits, sold on a first-come, first-served basis, are available at $100.00 each.

(Note, PPIHC policy for the Family Four-Pack mandates that all four people must be in one vehicle on race day and each occupant in a vehicle with a camping permit must also have a race ticket.)

Race tickets are required for anyone 10 years of age and older.

The popular Fan Fest will be staged on Friday evening, June 28, in downtown Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs Sports Corporation