Rhys Millen attacks Pikes Peak in Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Rhys Millen continued his pursuit of the family business this week as he began his 18th attack on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. As one of the most challenging hill climbs in the world at 12.4 miles and 156 turns, in some ways it's as close to running the Nürburgring Nordschleife as you're likely to get in America.

This is the first time Millen is making the run in his new Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and he's evidently driving the same car he has been using in Formula D drift events all year long – complete with the Hyundai V6 powerplant. In fact, the car was trucked to Colorado directly from last weekend's drift event in Las Vegas.

Millen took advantage of a practice session on the course three weeks ago to get a time this week that was 1.5 seconds per mile faster than he managed last year in a Pontiac Solstice that had three years of development. Speaking after Thursday's practice runs, Millen had this to say:

"Yesterday was the first day of practice in the middle section, approx. 3.0 miles. We ran faster than last years section time by 5 seconds ! Today was even better. Today we ran the upper section to the finish line and I'm still shocked to say this but we ran 27 seconds faster than last years section time. The car is working amazing, so predictable, so fast that I am driving like never before."

Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore sent us a few pics to share, so check them out in our gallery below.

[Source: Hyundai]