Hankook-sponsored Millen masters Pike Peak in record time

The victor in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb conquered the 'Race To The Clouds' in record time – and this is good news for Hankook Tire, as the protagonist responsible for this feat was none other than Hankook-sponsored driver Rhys Millen. The New Zealander’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe – fitted with Ventus F200 racing slicks – reached the summit with an overall time of 9:46:164 to claim victory over a field of almost 200 cars and motorcyclists. Millen’s Hyundai is the same car that his professional racer father Rod Millen drove to a world record time in the Time Attack 2WD class at last year's running of the race.

Prior to Millen starting his world record run, the Open Class category racers took to the mountain with Le Mans winner and factory Porsche driver Romain Dumas setting a world record in his full race prepped Porsche Cup Car. While Dumas’ run was quick, it wasn’t quick enough, and Millen later out-drove Dumas to secure the overall win and world record.

This year marked the 90th running of the race and presented competitors with a new challenge, a fully paved racing surface from the starting line to the mountain’s 14,000 foot elevation finish. “With the newly paved section of the course and the hot weather conditions, a lot of people failed or crashed. Our car’s balance remained the same from practice to race day using our Hankook race tyres the entire run,” said Millen. “Even on a slick tyre and in a torrential downpour during the last half mile, with the heat we were able to achieve in the tyres the grip was still adequate and we were able to produce a new world record.”

Rhys’ Genesis Coupe was tuned specifically for the race. Rhys Millen Racing set out to build the most competitive car possible, setting up the car with a redesigned front splitter and a wider rear body kit and keeping a close eye on vehicle weight. Enhancements to the engine resulted in an incredible 700 horsepower and 700 lb. ft. of torque, enabling the car to rocket to the mountain’s summit in record time.

“Rhys did an amazing job piloting his Hankook tyre-equipped Genesis Coupe to an overall victory and new world record this weekend,” said Hankook motorsports marketing manager Paul Jho. “Racing at Pikes Peak is extremely competitive, adding the course’s new fully paved surface made this one of the most heated events to date. I am glad that Hankook’s Ventus F200 tyres provided Rhys with the performance he needed to dominate at this year’s ‘Race To The Clouds’.”