Hyundai Motor America 10550 Talbert Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 MEDIA WEBSITE: HyundaiNews.com CORPORATE WEBSITE: HyundaiUSA.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HYUNDAI TIBURON POSTS THIRD QUICKEST TIME OVERALL AT 2000 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
Chris Hosford Corporate Communications Executive Director (714) 9653470 [email protected]
ID: 29098
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 7, 2000 – Hyundai Motorsports’ Libra Racing finished third overall, among 80 entries in the 78th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb near Colorado Springs, Colo. on July Fourth. The team’s Hyundai Tiburon was one of only a handful of streetlegal vehicles to compete in the event.
Hyundai driver Paul Choiniere, competing in the storied event for the fifth time, improved his 1999 time by an amazing 30 seconds, traversing the 12.42mile, 156 turn course in the time of 11 minutes, 26.05 seconds.
“I couldn’t be happier with a 30 second improvement on a road that was slower than last year,” said Choiniere, following his ascent to the 14,110ft. summit. “In past years, even in 1997 when I was the Pikes Peak Open division, I have always come away a bit frustrated, thinking I could have done better.
“This year I knew I had the best possible car, engine and tire combination and that gave me the confidence to drive 100 percent all the way.” He continued.
The 500 horsepower Tiburon finished second in the highly competitive Pikes Peak Open Category just 5 seconds behind a 750 horsepower, 2.0 liter Saab 93 Viggen driven by 1999 European Rallycross champion Per Eklund. Competition in the Open Class also included Nobuhiro Tajima’s 789horsepower twinengine Suzuki Esteem and last year’s winner JeanPierre Richelmi in a potent Lancia Integrale.
“We had some incredible competition this year,” said Hyundai Motorsports Team Director and owner of Libra Racing John Buffum. “At least two of the vehicles arguably belonged in the Unlimited Class, based on existing rules in the Pikes Peak Open (modified production vehicles) division.
“But when the technical staff failed to enforce these rules, we were left to compete headsup against purposebuilt race cars with the Tiburon, which is essentially our rally car modified slightly to conform to Pikes Peak Open regulations.” He explained. “It was sort of a David vs. Goliath scenario, but the mountain became the great equalizer on race day and Paul ran a great race.”
In his first visit to Pikes Peak, Choiniere finished a respectable second to seasonedcompetitors in the Pikes Peak Open Category. The following year he drove the allnew Tiburon to an Open class win against stiff competition from Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi. In 1998, he finished a close second among many top contenders. Last year, despite posting top practice times each day, Choiniere’s Tiburon suffered mechanical woes and did not reach the summit.
The 78th Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb marks Hyundai’s eighth year of competition in the worldrenowned event. Veteran driver Rod Milled piloted a Scoupe Turbo to victory for Hyundai in the High Performance Showroom Stock TwoWheel Drive Class in 1992, and the following year finished second after setting a record breaking qualifying time with an Elantra in the Open class.
Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, California, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company in Korea. Hyundai cars and light trucks are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America are sold and serviced through more than 500 dealerships nationwide.
# # # Hyundai Motor America 10550 Talbert Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 MEDIA WEBSITE: HyundaiNews.com CORPORATE WEBSITE: HyundaiUSA.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HYUNDAI TIBURON POSTS THIRD QUICKEST TIME OVERALL AT 2000 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
Chris Hosford Corporate Communications Executive Director (714) 9653470 [email protected]
ID: 29098
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 7, 2000 – Hyundai Motorsports’ Libra Racing finished third overall, among 80 entries in the 78th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb near Colorado Springs, Colo. on July Fourth. The team’s Hyundai Tiburon was one of only a handful of streetlegal vehicles to compete in the event.
Hyundai driver Paul Choiniere, competing in the storied event for the fifth time, improved his 1999 time by an amazing 30 seconds, traversing the 12.42mile, 156 turn course in the time of 11 minutes, 26.05 seconds.
“I couldn’t be happier with a 30 second improvement on a road that was slower than last year,” said Choiniere, following his ascent to the 14,110ft. summit. “In past years, even in 1997 when I was the Pikes Peak Open division, I have always come away a bit frustrated, thinking I could have done better.
“This year I knew I had the best possible car, engine and tire combination and that gave me the confidence to drive 100 percent all the way.” He continued.
The 500 horsepower Tiburon finished second in the highly competitive Pikes Peak Open Category just 5 seconds behind a 750 horsepower, 2.0 liter Saab 93 Viggen driven by 1999 European Rallycross champion Per Eklund. Competition in the Open Class also included Nobuhiro Tajima’s 789horsepower twinengine Suzuki Esteem and last year’s winner JeanPierre Richelmi in a potent Lancia Integrale.
“We had some incredible competition this year,” said Hyundai Motorsports Team Director and owner of Libra Racing John Buffum. “At least two of the vehicles arguably belonged in the Unlimited Class, based on existing rules in the Pikes Peak Open (modified production vehicles) division.
“But when the technical staff failed to enforce these rules, we were left to compete headsup against purposebuilt race cars with the Tiburon, which is essentially our rally car modified slightly to conform to Pikes Peak Open regulations.” He explained. “It was sort of a David vs. Goliath scenario, but the mountain became the great equalizer on race day and Paul ran a great race.”
In his first visit to Pikes Peak, Choiniere finished a respectable second to seasonedcompetitors in the Pikes Peak Open Category. The following year he drove the allnew Tiburon to an Open class win against stiff competition from Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi. In 1998, he finished a close second among many top contenders. Last year, despite posting top practice times each day, Choiniere’s Tiburon suffered mechanical woes and did not reach the summit.
The 78th Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb marks Hyundai’s eighth year of competition in the worldrenowned event. Veteran driver Rod Milled piloted a Scoupe Turbo to victory for Hyundai in the High Performance Showroom Stock TwoWheel Drive Class in 1992, and the following year finished second after setting a record breaking qualifying time with an Elantra in the Open class.
Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, California, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company in Korea. Hyundai cars and light trucks are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America are sold and serviced through more than 500 dealerships nationwide.
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