Hankook Tire Driver Rhys Millen Targets New Record at 2016 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

WAYNE, N.J., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hankook Tire returns to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this weekend as driver Rhys Millen attempts to break the overall race time record on the 100th anniversary of the second oldest motorsports event in America. Millen set the record last year when he became the first-ever electric vehicle driver to win the Pikes Peak race.

During the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, drivers ascend 12.42 miles up Pikes Peak Highway. The race includes 156 turns that begin at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak, located west of Colorado Springs in Cascade, Colo.

"Rhys and his team have worked very diligently on the car and focused on testing to ensure they are  ready to push the limit beyond what they  set  last year on the eve of this landmark anniversary," said Donato Bonacquisto, Hankook Tire America Corp. Motorsports and Events Manager. "Rhys's skills, technique, and equipment will combine to help him shatter his own record and truly showcase the power of electric cars and the optimum performance of his custom-fitted Hankook tires."

Millen will drive his all-electric, all-wheel drive 2016 Drive eO PP100 as he conquers this year's race. Millen's racecar uses a 50-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack along with seven electric motors to churn out over 1190 kW (approximately 1595 horsepower) and 1858 pound feet of torque. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb offers a fully paved race surface from start to finish, and Millen hopes to leverage this to his advantage with custom-fitted Hankook 320/710 R18 slick tires.

"I'm excited to be returning to Pikes Peak this year to be a part of the 100th anniversary running of the event and to defend our world record we set last year," said Millen. "Last year was a big leap in understanding electric car performance, drivability and chassis balance. With several small tweaks, planned pre-event mountain testing and the support from Hankook Tire with a specially constructed tire and compound, I feel the team and I are more prepared this year than ever before."

Activities for the 2016 running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb began with the technical inspections yesterday and continue today with four days of practice and qualifying. The week cumulates on Sunday, June 26 with a full day of racing.

About Hankook Tire America Corp.
Hankook Tire America Corp. is a growing leader in the U.S. tire market, leveraging investments in technology, manufacturing and marketing to deliver high quality, reliable products that are better for consumers and the environment.  Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. markets and distributes a complete line of high performance and ultra-high performance passenger tires, light truck, SUV tires, as well as medium truck and bus tires in the United States.

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SOURCE Hankook Tire America Corp.