Rhys Millen To Pilot Hyundai WRC Rally Car

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California — Hyundai is preparing an ex-World Rally Championship Hyundai Accent for the U.S. Rallycross Series and will test it — with Rhys Millen at the wheel — next month in rounds two and three of the U.S. Rallycross Championship at the New Jersey Motorsports Park.

John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said the move into rallycross "is all about learning the ropes." But next year, "we'll campaign with an all-new car that's also going to be an exciting entry to Hyundai's U.S. production lineup," he added.

One of the top rally/drifting drivers in North America, Millen said he is "excited to be stepping back into the world of rally," where he will square off against such luminaries as Travis Pastrana in the Subaru WRX STI and Ken Block in the Ford Fiesta.

The Hyundai rally car is based on an Accent two-door fitted with a 500-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels through an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox and Xtrac transfer case and front and rear differentials. The car features Proflex coil-over suspension with Brembo brakes, 18-inch Enkei wheels and Sparco seats and safety harnesses.

Next year's racecar will be based on "another future Hyundai that might make a good hot hatch rally car," a company spokesman told Inside Line.

Inside Line says: The initial effort looks impressive; we can't wait to see next year's rallycross rally car. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent