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| Rhys Millen Racing | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rhys Millen Racing |
| Founded | 2000s |
| Base | Southern California |
| Principal | Rhys Millen |
| Series | Formula D, Global RallyCross, Pikes Peak, Red Bull Drift |
| Drivers | Rhys Millen, Ryan Tuerck, Tanner Foust |
Rhys Millen Racing is a professional motorsports organization founded and led by a New Zealand-born driver and builder who competed across drifting, rallycross, hillclimb, and time attack. The team became prominent in North American motorsport through high-profile appearances at events such as the Formula Drift Championship, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and Red Bull Drift events, collaborating with manufacturers and sponsors to develop advanced competition cars.
The team's origins trace to the competitive careers of its founder in Formula D, Global RallyCross Championship, and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, intersecting with the rise of professional drifting in the United States alongside figures from Monster Energy-backed programs and mainstream motorsport. Early milestones included building purpose-built drift machines that competed at venues like Long Beach Grand Prix, Irwindale Speedway, and events promoted by Falken Tire and NOS Energy Drink. As the team expanded, it engaged with crossover series such as X Games and exhibitions at Goodwood Festival of Speed, reflecting ties to international rally and stunt traditions including competitors from Subaru Rally Team USA and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross programs.
Management centered on the founder as owner-driver and team principal, coordinating engineering, fabrication, and operations with specialists from Hoonigan Racing Division, Toyota Gazoo Racing, and independent tuners who had pedigrees at NASCAR and SCCA. Technical leadership often drew on engineers with experience at AEM Performance Electronics, HKS, and Sparco, and factory relationships involved contacts at Hyundai Motorsports USA, Nissan Motorsport, and Ford Performance. Event logistics and media were managed in collaboration with agencies tied to Red Bull North America, ESPN, and promoters like Live Nation for action-sports activations.
Primary driving duties were performed by the founder alongside high-profile teammates and guest competitors from drifting and rallycross circuits, including drivers affiliated with Tanner Foust-led programs, Ryan Tuerck, and international entrants who also raced for Ken Block-linked teams. The roster has featured talent that competed in championships run by Formula Drift, Global Rallycross, and appearance drivers from Formula 3 and WRC feeder categories, creating connections with pilots who raced in series promoted by FIA and organizers such as Motorsport Games.
The team developed a diverse fleet including bespoke drift cars, rallycross machines, and hillclimb entries derived from donor platforms supplied by manufacturers such as Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, Ford, and aftermarket builders like Rocket Bunny collaborators. Engineering focuses included turbocharged powertrains tuned with electronics from AEM, bespoke coilover systems influenced by suppliers like Ohlins, aerodynamic work referencing developments from APR Performance, and drivetrain solutions employing components from Tilton Engineering and GKN Driveline. Fabrication work was carried out in workshops utilizing techniques common to M-Sport and Prodrive preparatory shops, with testing at facilities including Willow Springs International Raceway and Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
Rhys Millen Racing campaigned in premier North American and international events: the Formula Drift Championship, the Global RallyCross Championship, and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, plus invitational contests such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and action-sports showcases at the X Games. The team also entered exhibition and media-focused runs linked to Red Bull projects and collaborated on car builds for series related to Time Attack and endurance demonstrations akin to support series at Sebring International Raceway and Daytona International Speedway.
Highlights include competitive podiums and strong showings at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with class records and course runs that drew coverage alongside historic hillclimb efforts by teams like Peugeot Sport and Audi Sport. The team secured event wins and top finishes in rounds of the Formula Drift Championship and notable performances in Global RallyCross events paralleling successes by teams such as Red Bull Rallycross and Andretti Autosport. The organization also contributed vehicles and driving talent to media projects and stunt sequences broadcast by NBC Sports and Red Bull TV.
Commercial partners included prominent brands from the automotive and energy sectors such as Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Falken Tire, NOS Energy Drink, and Red Bull, collaborating similarly to sponsorship structures seen with Monster Energy and Castrol. Technical partnerships involved suppliers like AEM, Ohlins, Sparco, and fabrication partners whose networks overlapped with aftermarket groups such as HKS and Enkei. Marketing and event relationships extended to promoters and broadcasters including ESPN, NBC Sports, and event organizers like Goodwood Road & Racing.
Category:Auto racing teams in the United States Category:Drifting teams Category:Motorsport teams