Hyundai and Rhys Millen extend deal for 2012

Hyundai Motor America and Rhys Millen will continue their partnership into the 2012 Global RallyCross season that starts on May 26 in Charlotte, N.C. He'll return to drive the hopped-up Veloster hatchback in all seven races, including two at ESPN's Summer X Games.

“I'm thrilled to represent Hyundai and the Veloster in the GRC series for a second season,” Millen said. “The RMR Veloster demonstrates just how impressive the production Hyundai Veloster is for everyday enthusiasts. GRC fans get to experience rallycross versions of affordable, fun-to-drive cars exploited to their full race potential.”

Hyundai is the lead sponsor for Rhys Millen's entry. The other Veloster in the series is driven by Stephan Verdier, who is sponsored by Disney XD. Millen has success in many forms of racing, including victories in RallyCross, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Formula Drift and other series. He also showed us how to do some real office drifting.

Millen's race-spec Veloster is tuned up to 500 hp from its turbocharged four. That's about 300 hp more than the Turbo version we'll see this summer. It also features an all-wheel-drive system that you won't find on street-spec Velosters.

Millen and Hyundai have been together since the company tapped him to head its motorsports department in 2009.

The 2012 Global RallyCross schedule is as follows:

-- May 26: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, N.C.

-- June 9: Texas Motor Speedway, Dallas

-- June 30-31: Summer X Games, Los Angeles

-- July 14: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.

-- Sept. 1: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta

-- Sept. 29: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

By Jake Lingeman