Hyundai and Rhys Millen Racing to Challenge Pikes Peak World Record in an AWD Genesis

Rhys Millen will once again head to Pikes Peak this year, in the hopes of setting a new world record. The Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) team is currently building a special vehicle for the uphill climb, called the RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580, which will compete in Unlimited class and use all-wheel drive. Hyundai has released a single teaser image (above).

The current world record hold is Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, who ran a 10:01.41 on the 12.42-mile course in an extremely modified Suzuki back in 2007.

Last year Millen ran a 12:09.397 in the rear-wheel drive Time Attack Class. That might not sound all that impressive, but he was essentially using his drift car and did manage to beat his nearest competitor by 1 minute, 23 seconds and besting even his own previous time by 22 seconds.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which takes place annually on Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starts at an elevation of 9,300 feet and finishes at an elevation of 14,110 feet – where the air is so think drivers' reaction times begin to slow and their race car engines lose 30 percent of their power. Drivers drift around 156 corners, nearly missing guard rails and trees, while avoiding cliffs with 2,000-foot drop-offs.

This year's event takes place on June 27th.

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