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    2008 Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen joins Team Toyo, will compete on extreme performance Toyo Proxes R1R

    Feb. 11, 2009

     Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced today that Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen is the newest member of Team Toyo.  Millen will compete for the Formula DRIFT championship in a 550-horsepower, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe equipped with the extreme performance Toyo Proxes R1R tires.  In addition to the Formula DRIFT series, Millen plans to compete with the car in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb as well as Redline Time Attack events.

     Since its release in 2007, the Proxes R1R has won two Formula Drift championships, the D1 GP championship and the Street Touring S class championship during the 2008 SCCA Solo National Championships as well as many time attack competitions. 

    “To race on a race tire is one thing, to race on a DOT approved street tire that grips, handles and out maneuvers any other tire that I have driven on before is simply amazing,” said Millen.  “My goal is to keep winning races and setting records and based on the pre-season testing we have done, the Toyo Proxes R1R will leave the competition behind us…in our smoke.”

    Millen won the 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championships and finished third overall in the 2008 Formula DRIFT.  He is a multi-talented driver who has competed in all disciplines including drifting, off-road and rally racing.  During 2008, Millen also won the Time Attack 2WD Division of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hillclimb while setting a record in the process.  He also works as a stunt driver and driver coordinator for the movie industry, piloting cars in movies such as The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift, and the Dukes of Hazzard.

    “We are excited to have Rhys Millen as the newest member of Team Toyo,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.  “He is a talented driver, well-positioned to win and bring Toyo Tires a third straight Formula Drift championship.”

    Ideal for the enthusiast driver, the 140-rated Proxes R1R is also an excellent choice for maximum performance street driving, high performance driving schools and track days.

    Round 1 of the seven-round Formula DRIFT series begins April 11 in Long Beach, California.