Hankook Tire returned with Rhys Millen to the 2016 running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for the 100th anniversary of the second oldest motorsports race in America this past weekend.
Hankook Driver Rhys Millen set a new electric vehicle record, torching the course in an astonishing time of 8:57.118. Millen piloted his signature all-electric, all-wheel drive Drive eO PPO3 equipped with Hankook Ventus race tires, winning the Electric Modified vehicle class and finishing in second place overall.
"[Sunday] was a milestone day for the entire team as Rhys Millen brought the Drive eO PP100 fitted with Hankook tires to the summit in a record breaking 08:57.118. Breaking the nine minute barrier at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was an audacious target for us and one that has never been achieved by an electric vehicle before,” said Donato Bonacquisto, Hankook Tire America Corp. Motorsports and Events Manager. “We worked closely with Rhys and the Drive eO team during the past several months developing a special compound Hankook tire based on Rhys' specific input. Our main goal this year was to break the nine minute mark and win the EV class and we did both so we are very proud of what was accomplished with the members involved in this project."
Millen, who was the defending champion coming into Sunday’s race battled through unusually warm and slick track conditions to finish the course faster than any electric vehicle in the history of the race.
“What an amazing year to be a part of the 100th anniversary of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. We came to this year’s event with two goals in mind, defend and win the electric division and in doing so become the first electric car to break the nine minute barrier,” said Rhys Millen. “The road was a lot slicker than I expected. I pushed as hard as I could to make it to the summit without risking the vehicle and we were rewarded with a new world record in the electric division and second overall.”
