Millen Re-ups with Refreshed Genesis Coupe

[Hyundai NEWS]

After finishing the first and second in the last two races of the 2011 Formula Drift Series, Rhys Millen and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe are officially back on track for more success in this year’s competition. The two recently extended their ongoing partnership in an effort to bring home the championship this year.
“I’m pleased to have Hyundai’s ongoing support for the 2012 season,” Millen said. “This begins the fourth year of our racing relationship with Hyundai, and we want to continue to build upon our success in both developing and racing Hyundai’s race-proven products
“The refreshed 2013 Genesis Coupe with direct injection and twin-scroll turbocharger technology leverages the proven performance of Hyundai’s rear-drive coupe, making it a perfect choice for anyone interested in competitive driving events.”
In fact, the Genesis Coupe’s production powertrain is so effective that components like the engine block and cylinder heads are also used in Millen’s racer. One big difference: The powerplant is good for more than 600 horses in the Genesis Coupe drift car while drivers of the street-legal version have to make do with “only” 348. Still, with that much power on tap, along with a sport-tuned suspension, six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and Brembo stoppers, the Genesis Coupe available at local Hyundai dealerships is no slouch in the performance department.
Which is exactly what makes the Hyundai/Millen partnership so fitting.
“Formula Drift is the best race-fan-oriented example of extreme car-control driving. It’s also the best competitive arena for us to highlight the rear-drive power and handling finesse of the new Genesis Coupe,” explains Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “It’s thrilling when a driver of Rhys Millen’s caliber combines tire-smoking power with surgical drifting precision. And, in addition to the intense drifting action, Hyundai will provide trackside interactive facilities where drift fans can check out its latest products, driving games, music partnerships and race fan gifts. With the thousands who joined us at our interactive area in 2011, we intend to expand our fan outreach even further in 2012.”
Want to catch the action for yourself? The Formula Drift Series kicked off in the first weekend of April and will continue as follows:

• May 11-12—Road Atlanta
• June 1-2—Palm Beach International Raceway, West Palm Beach, Fla.
• June 22-23—Wall Speedway, Wall Township, N.J.
• July 20-21—Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.
• August 24-25—Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• October 12-13–Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway

And remember, the relationship between Hyundai and Millen’s RMR Racing extends beyond the drift circuit. This season also marks the second straight year in which RMR has campaigned a Hyundai Veloster in the quickly growing Global RallyCross Championship.