Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) are again joining forces to create a groundbreaking new team for the 2014 Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) series. For 2014, Hyundai and RMR continue their assault on dirt- and tarmac-based circuits throughout North America with highly-tuned Veloster Turbo rallycross cars.
The new two-car team will feature Pikes Peak champion and veteran racer Rhys Millen, with New Zealand rally champion Emma Gilmour behind the wheel of the second Veloster racecar.
“We can’t wait for the 2014 Global Rallycross season to get started with our new team and freshly-tuned Veloster Turbo racers,” said Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “Global Rallycross is the perfect racing series for the compact, fun-to-drive Veloster, and the RMR Velosters are sure to be pushed to the limit every race this season with rally veterans like Rhys and Emma at the helm. We’re proud to team up with two drivers known for their precision and consistency, and we are especially excited to give Emma the opportunity to be the first female driver in Global Rallycross.”
HYUNDAI/RMR VELOSTER TURBO: Hyundai Veloster Turbo employs a unique third-door design and an efficient, direct-injected, lightweight aluminum powertrain. The Turbo model boasts a hefty 63 horsepower advantage over the normally-aspirated model, generating an impressive 201 horsepower from only 1.6 liters of displacement. The fully race-prepared RMR Veloster Rallycross turbo engine generates more than 600 peak horsepower from its four-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled powerplant, for explosive acceleration out of corners.
RHYS MILLEN:”The Global Rallycross series holds even more promise for the Hyundai/RMR team in the 2014 season, with great opportunities to leverage valuable racing and technical experience earned by the team in recent years,” said Millen. “The RMR Veloster is perfect for GRC by giving enthusiasts a glimpse of affordable, fun-to-drive production cars exploited to their full race potential in an action-packed rallycross series. Even more, I’m especially proud to have Emma as a teammate; with many top rally drivers hailing from New Zealand, her consistent top performance is sure to impress at every stage of the series.”
World Champion driver Rhys Millen set an overall world record at the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, earning “King of the Mountain” status in the RMR Genesis Coupe. In the 2012 Global Rallycross Championship Series, the Hyundai/RMR team finished second in manufacturer’s points and third in driver’s points. Millen’s driving credentials further include extensive movie and advertising stunts, 2008 Formula Drift World Champion, 2005 USA Drifting Champion, seven Pikes Peak world records and the 2008 New Year’s Eve Las Vegas truck flip at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. Behind Millen’s success in the driver’s seat is an experienced team of engineers and expert fabricators in race preparation and tuning.
NEW RMR DRIVER: EMMA GILMOUR: “I couldn’t be more honored to join the Hyundai/RMR Global Rallycross team for the 2014 season,” said Emma Gilmour, New Zealand rally veteran. “Rhys is known worldwide for his precise and consistent rally skills, and my years of successful rally experience are a perfect fit for the RMR team effort. It’s a true privilege to be the first female driver in the GRC series, and I’m confident my performance will open up more opportunities for a number of great female rally drivers in the future.”
GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: The 2014 Global RallyCross Championship season features 10 race events, including the ESPN Summer X-Games®. The X-Games were one of the first public venues introducing the concept of rallycross to U.S. racing enthusiasts. The GRC circuit at each venue features a series of tight turns and a large jump where the cars become airborne, with most of the circuit visible to GRC fans for the duration of the heat. The 2014 GRC season will kick-off at the Caribbean island of Barbados at the BBC Top Gear® Festival, Saturday, May 17, where fans are invited to get up-close with both drivers and technicians in the GRC paddock area. RMR fans will be able to view both RMR rallycross and production versions of the Veloster.From PR Newswire Association LLC
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