Rhys Millen Racing Ready To Hit Pikes Peak in Genesis PM580

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California — Rhys Millen Racing unveiled its Hyundai Genesis PM580 Pikes Peak racer last April, with impressive performance figures — 775 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque. Now Inside Line's Straightline blog tests the "Project Record Retrieval" vehicle as it is fine-tuned for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 27, and the results are even more stunning.

Specifically, the 2010 RMR Hyundai PM580 is powered by 4.1-liter turbo V6 power plant (which was stroked to 4.1 liters from a 3.8-liter Hyundai Lambda engine). It tips the scale at 1,930 pounds — a power-to-weight ratio that even trumps the lightweight base Hennessey Performance Engineering Venom GT. The chassis started as a Palmer Jaguar JP1, and the all-wheel-drive power is routed through a paddle-shifted Weismann five-speed transmission and three differentials.

After meeting with Team RMR, IL Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot saw firsthand the raw power of the Pikes Peak racer. It manages to accelerate from 20-125 mph in just 5.94 seconds, which is impressive when you compare it to the 9.55 seconds it takes the Corvette ZR1 to accelerate through the same range.

The RMR racing team plans to wear shirts that say "we fear no Monster" on race day, referencing Pikes Peak vet Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima. The Suzuki-sponsored 60-year-old driver is looking to get his fifth overall win, and this year he will be behind the wheel of a heavily modified 2010 Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special. Team Monster Sport is accepting the challenge from Rhys Millen and is ready to showcase its 3.1-liter Twin Turbo power plant with 910 hp and 655 lb-ft of torque.

Inside Line says: The rivalry is running strong between these two teams as the June 27 race day nears. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent