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World Champion drifting driver Rhys Millen is the newest member of Team Toyo. He will be competing this year for the Formula DRIFT title in a 550-horsepower, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe equipped with Toyo’s extreme performance Proxes R1R tires.
In addition to the Formula DRIFT series, Millen plans to run the car in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb as well as Redline Time Attack events.
Since the tire’s release in 2007, drivers rolling on R1Rs have won two Formula DRIFT championships, the D1 GP title and the Street Touring S class championship during the 2008 SCCA Solo National Championships along with other time-attack competitions.
“To race on a race tire is one thing, to race on a DOT-approved street tire that grips, handles and out maneuvers any other tire that I have driven on before is simply amazing,” says Millen.“My goal is to keep winning races and setting records and based on the pre-season testing we have done, the Toyo Proxes R1R will leave the competition behind us…in our smoke.”
Millen won the 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championships and finished third overall in the 2008 Formula DRIFT. He has competed in all types of driving disciplines, including drifting, off-road and rally racing.
Last year Millen also won the Time Attack 2WD Division of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hillclimb while setting a record in the process. In addition, he works as a stunt driver and driver coordinator for the movie industry, piloting cars in flicks such as “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift” and the “Dukes of Hazzard.”
“We are excited to have Rhys Millen as the newest member of Team Toyo,” says Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports. “He is a talented driver – well-positioned to win and bring Toyo Tires a third straight Formula DRIFT championship.”
Round 1 of the seven-round Formula DRIFT series begins April 11 in Long Beach, Calif.
For more information, visit www.toyo.com and www.formulad.com.
