New Zealand’s Millen, who has become one of the race’s legends, will be competing at Pikes Peak for the 20th time in his career. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1992 and has won a dozen championships, mainly in the Time Attack Division.
He was second in the Unlimited division last year behind the record-setting performance of Japan’s Nobuhiro Tajima, who became the first driver to crack the elusive ten-minute mark with his clocking of 9:51.278. Millen drove his Hyundai RMR PM580 to a 10:09.242 despite the unfortunate brake issues.
In 2011 at Pikes Peak, 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.
Millen will drive a 2012 2WD Hyundai PM580t, equipped with sponsor Hankook tires next summer in another attempt to win the Unlimited division and eclipse Tajima’s record on the now fully-paved 12.42 mile course on America’s Mountain.
His famed father, 60-year-old legend Rod Millen, returned to the Peak for the first time since 1999 and proceeded to set a new record in the Time Attack 2WD class with a clocking of 11:04.912. Race officials wait to hear from him about another appearance.
The 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is on a dizzying pace as 105 drivers and racers have registered to compete on the Peak next summer. It’s the fastest start in the race’s history for advance registrations.
Official driver and racer registration is open at www.ppihc.com
The deadline for registration is June 15, and only the first 100 motorcycles and 50 autos are guaranteed entry at this point.
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