Here is Formula DRIFT driver Rhys Millen’s 2009 World Record Setting Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb run of 12:09 winning the 2WD Time Attack class that 2009 Pike’s Peak Hill Climb. It’s an amazing video presented by Will Roegge. Congrats to Rhys and the team.
Category: FD News
Inside Line Video of Rhys Millen at Pikes Peak
Formula DRIFT 2005 champion and Red Bull Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen recently broke the Pikes Peak world record for his class in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Here is a great P.O.V video from Inside Line. More to come.
Rhys Millen Sets 2WD Time Attack class record at Pikes Peak
RED BULL HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE AND RHYS MILLEN SET WORLD RECORD TO TAKE PIKES PEAK TIME ATTACK TITLE
World Champion Driver Rhys Millen Claims Ninth Mountain Win
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 19, 2009 – The 87th Annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has a new world record holder today – the Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe. World Champion driver Rhys Millen piloted the Genesis Coupe to his ninth overall class title, breaking one of his two world records in 17 trips to the Hill Climb.
“Driving the Genesis Coupe for the first time at Pikes Peak in front of thousands of fans is an amazing experience,” said Millen. “Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of Pikes Peak while competing against yourself for the record.”
Millen set the record time of 12 minutes, 9 seconds (12:09.397) more than 1 minute and 23 seconds faster than his nearest competitor in the rear-wheel-drive Time Attack Class. At the finish line on the summit of Pikes Peak, Millen reported that the car that never skipped a beat, no matter how hard he challenged the diverse terrain and high altitude, and finished with both rear tires down to steel belts. Millen utilized the Genesis Coupe’s rear-drive layout to its full potential, power-sliding his Genesis Coupe mere inches away from guard rails, trees and 2,000-foot cliffs, while besting his own record of 12 minutes, 31.61 seconds by 22 seconds.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America, second only to the Indianapolis 500, and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs. First run in 1916, this year marks the 87th running of the thrilling “Race to the Clouds.”
The race is run on a course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the oxygen-depleted 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of up to 30 percent of their power at the summit. It’s a true test of endurance for competitors and vehicles.
This year the race has 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi-truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
With more than 16 years of racing experience, Rhys Millen has established himself as one of the premier rally/drifting drivers in North America. Born in New Zealand in 1972, Rhys is the son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen. Rhys joined Rod in the U.S. as a teenager and soon afterwards established himself as racer by taking first at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Open Division and winning Rookie of the Year. He won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 and the Red Bull Drifting World Championship in 2008.
Millen and his team are an ideal match to help launch Hyundai’s motorsports effort with the Genesis Coupe. Millen’s driving credentials include movie stunts, multiple drifting championships, a Pikes Peak world record and his recent New Year’s Eve Las Vegas truck flip. But behind Millen’s success in the driver’s seat is a full team of engineers and fabricators that know how to maximize the potential of a race car.
Millen had his first opportunity to test drive the Genesis Coupe’s performance credentials when he performed precision driving for the car’s debut advertising campaign airing during Super Bowl XLIII. Millen flogged a Genesis Coupe for a full three days during the filming process at Road Atlanta racetrack, and the car never stopped asking for more.
For more visit www.autoblog.com
Falken Tire Guitar Giveaway Round 4: All In Winner
Vegas local Judy Enciso with her kids won the Formula DRIFT Round 4: All In Falken Giveaway Guitar that was designed by the Falken models, this past weekend. Falken has 3 more guitars at the following rounds to give out be sure to fill out the form at their booth.
Formula DRIFT Round 4: All In Results
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2009
Formula DRIFT Round 4: All In Results;
Tanner Foust Takes the Victory and Chris Forsberg Moves to Top Spot
Long Beach, Calif. – July 12, 2009 – Formula DRIFT returned to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 4: All In. Champion Tanner Foust takes the victory in his Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC, while Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z moves to the top position overall in the chase for the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship.
For the 2nd consecutive year, Formula DRIFT returned to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 2-day weekend event was filled with non-stop Formula DRIFT and Pro Am action. Fans were also treated to the Jtuned Auto Gallery car show, Wicked H.P. drag competition, and Bikini Jam.
“Las Vegas continues to be one of the top destinations for the circuit despite the triple digit weather,” said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The fans continue to come out in droves and we had another sold out event. The drivers continue to step up their level of drifting and we’re seeing a real chase for the Championship.”
Chris Forsberg took over the point lead after a close battle with Ryan Tuerck, who was ranked #2 going into the event, in the Great 8 round. Forsberg then went on to defeat Tyler McQuarrie, in the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z, in the consolation round for 3rd place. The final battle was between Hankook Tire teammates Tanner Foust and Ryuji Miki, piloting the APEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7. Foust proved why he is the returning champion and blinded Miki in the first run with a cloud of thick smoke that caused Miki to lose his drift, while giving chase in their first tandem run giving Foust the advantage. With a solid 2nd run, Foust was able to sit on top of the podium once again.
“The Rockstar team and I went from zero to hero after failing to qualify for the main competition last event,” said Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust, winner of Round 4: All In. “I am so proud of my team and they worked hard to fix the issues of the Rockstar Scion tC and I now feel comfortable and feel that this car has more potential than the Nissan 350Z ever had.”
Formula DRIFT returns to Evergreen Speedway on August 8-9. Tickets are on-sale now.
Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 307 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 294 Points
3. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 271 Points
4. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 265.50 Points
5. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 265 Points
6. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 260 Points
7. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 259 Points
8. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 246.50 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 245 Points
10. Maeng, Joon Maxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 227.25 Points
11. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 223 Points
12. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 220 Points
13. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 219 Points
14. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 214 Points
15. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 212.75 Points
16. Yoshihara, Daijiro Falken Tire / Discount Tire Lexus IS350 208 Points
Round 4: All In Event Results
1. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC
2. Miki, Ryuji APEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z
Tires.com Triple Crown Point Standings after 1 of 3 events
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 102 Points
2. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 94 Points
3. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 80 Points
Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com