FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 8, 2023
BEHIND THE WHEEL
RHYS MILLEN RETURNS TO AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN IN BMW M8 FOR 101st RUNNING OF THE PPIHC
Colorado Springs, CO – The 101st Running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, presents 70 drivers from around the world and across the USA on June 25. Veteran competitor, Rhys Millen representing New Zealand returns for his 27th assault on the iconic 12.42 mile course.
Rhys Millen, two-time King of the Mountain is ready to battle the mountain once again, this year in a 2023 BMW M8. Since his first race in 1992, claiming Rookie of the Year honors, Millen has been storming Pikes Peak building on his father’s legacy ever since.
Five-time King of the Mountain, Rod Millen, all-dirt course record holder, Pikes Peak icon and Hall of Famer returned to the mountain in 2022 for the 100th Running of the second oldest race in America proving he still has what it takes, claiming third in the Exhibition division and a remarkable 8th place, overall.
During his two-decades of competing on Pikes Peak, Rhys Millen has earned 14 division wins including eight division records, two King of the Mountain crowns, and has been in the Fast 15 qualifiers since its inception. Tapped by Bentley to pilot their entries in 2018 and 2019, Millen etched back-to-back records for the marque, first in a production SUV, the Bentayga, and second in the 2019 Continental GT.
Beyond his career at Pikes Peak, Millen’s racing resume is a testament to his skill and success. He was the 2006 Tires.com Triple Crown Champion, has competed in multiple X-Games, and is an avid off-road racer. His driving isn’t limited to the track; he has performed as a stunt double and stunt driver in countless commercials and many popular films including the Fast and Furious franchise. Millen was recently honored as a 2023 inductee to the Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame.
Millen celebrating his win in the 2022 Pikes Peak Open division atop America’s Mountain in the 100th Running of the Race to the Clouds. He clocked a 10:52.664 on the wet, foggy course in the dazzling 2016 E-Motion Porsche GT3R TT.
Millen’s 2019 record-setting run in the Bentley Continental GT – the second production car record for Bentley and win in the Exhibition division.
GET TO KNOW RHYS MILLEN
Three Things For Fans To Know –
I go for long walks right before the race starts.
I will always be faster on race day than during practice.
I speak quietly but walk with a heavy right foot.
Pikes Peak Heroes – Pops (aka Rod Millen), Michele Mouton and Ari Vatanen.
Favorite Track – Baja Mexico
What makes racing on Pikes Peak different from racing anywhere else? “The course design and location forces you to think entirely different from an engineering aspect. It has the formula of a dirt track, road racing and rally. If you get it right – the feeling is amazing; if you get it wrong… it’s going to be a long week.”
ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s six race divisions feature a wide variety of vehicles – from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles. The current race record was set in 2018 by Romain Dumas and Volkswagen in the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak – 07:57.148.
Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
