Kinetic Motorsports Scores First Win With Privateer Forte Koup Program In Pirelli World Challenge At Canadian Tire Motorsports Park

IRVINE, Calif., May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinetic Motorsports, Kia Motors America's racing partner in the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC), made history this weekend in Canada recording three podium finishes, including the first two wins for a new pair of privately entered Forte Koups, in the PWC Touring Car A (TC-A) class at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP).  Series rookie Jason Wolfe, from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, scored both victories behind the wheel of the No. 36 Richard Wolfe Trucking Forte Koup.  Wolfe's win in round two marks the first victory for the turbocharged Forte Koup platform in just its second race of the season.  His impressive weekend north of the border continued in rounds three and four with another win and second-place finish, which catapulted Wolfe to the top of the TC-A Driver Championship standing, and placed Kia atop the Manufacturer ranking after four rounds.

"Our performance at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park showcases what a great platform the Forte Koup is for racing in this new TC-A class in the Pirelli World Challenge," said Russell Smith, owner & driver, Kinetic Motorsports, who also finished the weekend with three top-five finishes of his own in the No. 38 Korean Air Forte Koup.  "Jason (Wolfe) has tremendous talent behind the wheel of the Forte Koup, and it's clear he will be a force to be reckoned with as the season goes on."

The Kinetic Motorsports privateer Forte Koup program complements Kia's existing commitment to PWC, which features two factory-backed turbocharged Optimas in the Grand Touring Sport (GTS) class.  Mark Wilkins in the No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S. Optima turbo and Nic Jonsson in the No. 36 DonorsChoose.org Optima turbo currently sit first and second in the GTS Driver Championship, respectively, while Kia currently leads the Manufacturer Championship ahead of rivals Porsche, Ford, Chevrolet and Aston Martin. The next GTS race is scheduled for May 30-June 1 in Detroit.  That same weekend the Kinetic Forte Koups will do battle at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J., in rounds five and six for the TC-A class competitors.  

Race fans can watch coverage of the races online at www.world-challengetv.com and catch the latest news and updates from the Kia Racing Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kiaracing and follow the team on Twitter: @KiaRacing.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea.  KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles.   KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K900 flagship sedan[1], Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States.  Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.

Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
[1] 2015 K900 available in select trims and in select markets with limited availability.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140520/89587

SOURCE Kia Motors America