Rod Millen dominated his racing class this weekend at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs, Colorado winning in the Time Attack Two-Wheel-Drive Class. As the second oldest motor sports event in the United States, the 12.42 mile long, 156 turn Pikes Peak course is comprised of both paved asphalt and unpaved gravel sections and is regarded as one of the most demanding motorsports events in the world. Hankook Tire is an official sponsor of the race.
Millen participated in the race driving his son Rhys Millen’s Hankook Ventus F200 race tire equipped Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The Genesis, used by Rhys in the 2011 Formula Drift series, was tuned from a drift car setup used by the younger Millen, into a high speed road course racer for the this event. Rod Millen crossed the finish line with a time of 11.04.91. Rod’s son Rhys scored a second place finish in the Unlimited Class behind the wheel of his Hankook tire equipped Hyundai PM580.
2011 celebrates the 89th running of the “Race to the Clouds” and drew more than 35,000 spectators to Colorado Springs to see the best-of-the-best try to make their mark on the mountain. This year’s race featured 10 classes of motorcycles and quads and 16 car and truck divisions consisting of a broad array of vehicles. The race, which starts at 9,390 feet above sea level and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak is a true test of driver skill, vehicle design and tire engineering. Rod Millen’s win comes on the heels of Hankook driver Conrad Grunewald’s first place finish last week in round number four of the Formula Drift series in Wall, New Jersey.
“The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is one of the most grueling and demanding races in the world for both competitors and their vehicles,” said Hankook motorsports manager Paul Jho. “We are thrilled with Rod’s win in the Time Attack Two-Wheel-Drive class and happy that our Hankook Ventus F200 race tires provided him with the competitive edge he needed to win.”
Both Rod and Rhys’ cars were equipped with Hankook Ventus F200 race tires to provide them with the traction and control they needed to push their vehicles to the performance limit. The Hankook tires used on the Millen cars are engineered using the same technology as those used by race teams competing in the European Le Mans and DTM series and the Super GT series in Japan.
Hankook has increasingly become a staple on the American motorsports scene. The company garnered enhanced visibility and sales increases in 2010 as a result of its motorsports sponsorships and special racing programs and has multiplied its involvement for 2011 by becoming an official sponsor of Formula Drift, as well as supporting the Redline Time Attack series, Rally Cross Events and Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Enthusiasts, racers and influencers in the industry will experience Hankook’s increased presence in nearly two dozen races around the country in popular driving events.
