Hyundai Veloster Rally Car makes its race debut

Just a little over a month after it was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, the Hyundai Veloster Rally Car made its competition debut at the Global Rally Championship this past week.

Flying under the Rhys Millen Racing banner, which also works with Hyundai in Formula Drift and for the Pikes Peak Hill climb, a duo of Veloster rally cars managed to make it through the entire weekend trouble free – something that couldn't be said for some of the more established teams. Hyundai's team did experience some teething problems with tire compounds and gear ratio selections, but they plan to rectify those issues for the next round of RallyCross next month in Snoqualmie, WA.

We got up close and personal with Millen's Veloster at the event, and came away with plenty of photos for your visual enjoyment. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the 500-horsepower, 2,600-pound, all-wheel-drive, carbon fiber rocket ship.

Photos copyright ©2011 Drew Phillips / AOL