Millen Battles blistering 100-plus degree Florida heat and humidity to earn Pole Position and Dominate the Final Heat in the Sixth Race of the Season
DAYTONA, FL, August 23, 2014 – Rhys Millen skillfully piloted his Hyundai Veloster rallycross racer to victory in the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship race in Daytona, Florida on Saturday. Millen had an extremely successful event, earning pole position in the final by taking first in his semifinal heat and holding position for the entire race, refusing to be passed despite fierce competition. Driving conditions in Daytona were particularly brutal for all of the GRC racers, with smothering heat and heavy humidity throughout the heats. The Daytona course is the longest course of the GRC season, with the longest straightaway, allowing Millen to leverage the smooth, generous power of his turbocharged Hyundai powerplant to victory.
“We’re proud of our team’s first win of the 2014 season. It’s just amazing with how strong the car was coming into this weekend,” said Millen in a post-race interview. “The car was on point. We had the fastest car this weekend and the competition was intense in the final; but we did what we set out to do and won. It’s fantastic to come to a venue that has such rich history and achieve what we achieved today.”
The Daytona GRC race also offered a generous amount of sandy soil, allowing Millen to leverage his vast experience at both Pikes Peak and Formula Drift to maintain his lead. Millen’s teammate, Emma Gilmour, another veteran racer from New Zealand, fought hard and won an additional three points in the 2014 standings as well.
Next up for the Millen team is the Global Rallycross double-header event in Los Angeles, with two races packed into the same weekend of September 20. The event will be held at the San Pedro harbor waterfront, offering new challenges and an exciting venue for GRC fans.