On the heels of a fifth-straight top-10 finish at Lime Rock Park last weekend, Kia Racing returns to the action this week for the Continental Tire 150 at Watkins Glen International with a renewed focus on a podium finish and climbing to the top of the ST class engine manufacturer standings. The Infinity Audio Kia Forte Koups begin the second half of the season in a strong position, currently in second place in the ST class team standings and just six points off the lead in the ST engine manufacturer standings. Nic Jönsson enters Watkins Glen in third place in the ST driver standings, just six points behind the leader.

 

Kia Motors America's (KMA) second-year racing program - in partnership with Kinetic Motorsports - has high hopes for the remainder of the CTSCC schedule, building on the solid foundation laid by strong performances during the first half of the season. Kia Racing hopes to leverage the No. 10 and No. 12 Forte Koups' outstanding braking and handling characteristics at the highly technical 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course at Watkins Glen for a chance to secure its third podium finish of the 2011 season.

 

"Kia's fast-maturing racing program has proven that it's a force to be reckoned over the course of the season's first five events, and we hope to kick off the second half in victorious fashion at the Continental Tire 150 later this week," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "Following our fifth-consecutive top-10 finish at Lime Rock Park last weekend, the Kia Racing team is focused on finishing out the 2011 CTSCC season with more podium finishes and enough points to take us to the top of the engine manufacturer standings. The Infinity Audio Forte Koups' outstanding handling and braking capabilities should match up well with the road course at Watkins Glen and gives us a shot at our third podium finish."

The Continental Tire 150 will be broadcast on Sunday, June 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET on the SPEED Channel. Race fans can follow Kia's motorsports program and receive live updates at www.facebook.com/kiaracing.