• 10-SEP-2015

  • Irvine, California

Kia Racing Prepares For 2015 Pirelli World Challenge Season Finale At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Kia, reigning Grand Touring Sport (GTS) Manufacturer Champion, concludes its 2015 Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) campaign this weekend with round 17 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (MRLS) in Monterey, California. Kia Racing's Optimas last visited the picturesque track in 2012, recording two top-10 finishes in the team's rookie PWC season with then pilots Michael Galati and Mark Wilkins. In fact, that 2012 event was Wilkins' Kia Racing debut in the No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S. Optima turbo. Since then, the Canadian has proven his mettle by finishing third in the GTS Driver Championship in two of the past three seasons, helping Kia earn the 2014 GTS Manufacturer Championship – one of three national titles claimed by the Korean brand last year.

"Having driven the Optima for as long as I have, there aren't many tracks on the PWC schedule that I haven't experienced. I always look forward to Laguna, but this year is interesting because we haven't raced here since 2012 and the Optimas have been developed into true contenders thanks to the efforts of the entire Kia Racing organization over the last three years," said Wilkins. "This program has come a long way since my first race here four seasons ago, and I'm excited to get out there and showcase what this awesome racecar can do this weekend. Even though we are out of the championship hunt this year, it's important to end the season on a high note."