Kia is expanding its motorsport activities by entering two race-prepped Optima SXs in the Pirelli World Challenge Championships.
These World Challenge Optima SXs, developed jointly by Kia and Kinetic Motorsports, will compete in the Grand Touring Sport (GTS) class alongside established nameplates such as Mustang and Camaro at world-class race tracks across North America, including Road Atlanta, the street circuit in Long Beach, Calif., and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.
They will be the first Korean cars in the series.
Kia has already a successful career in the stock car championship with the Koup, and recently announced the B-Spec Kia Rio race car. Looks like they are very serious about putting on a more sporty face.
“As a brand with no previous racing experience in America, for Kia to win two motorsports championships in just its second year is an incredible accomplishment, and expanding our motorsports footprint with the turbocharged Optima entering World Challenge will continue to build passion and enthusiasm for the brand with an entirely new fan base at different race tracks across the country,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “With its aerodynamic styling and outstanding driving dynamics, the Optima SX should be well suited to the ultra-competitive environment of World Challenge racing.”
