Kia announced today that the two Forte Koup models, fielded by Kinetic Motorsports last year, would be trying to make a lasting impression this season as well, with the goal this time set on taking one of top three spots in the Street Tuner (ST) class of the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Last year, the two cars managed to complete the Daytona race in 19th (No. 12) and 31st (No. 10) places, respectively.
This year too the two cars will be fielded by Kinetic, with Infinity Audio Systems acting as primary sponsor. The cars have been upgraded, says Kia, by using the information acquired last year, so that a podium finish in 2011 is not at all out of reach.
"Our primary objectives in 2010 were to get the Kia Forte Koups on the track and learn as much as we possibly could at every opportunity while also making improvements as the season progressed to be consistent and competitive for a first-year program," said Christian Rushforth, Kinetic Motorsports' Kia project engineer.
"While we certainly did learn a lot, and in some cases may have exceeded our own goals, including leading a few races, our entire off-season program was based on the goal of getting the Kia Forte Koups on the podium in 2011."
As they did last year, the two models to be entered in the races this year are powered by a 2.4l inline four-cylinder engine and come in two-door, front-wheel-drive configurations.
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