Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today announced that professional SCORE International off-road series race-winning driver Beccy Gordon will pilot the 100% electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i race car in this year's annual running of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on July 8.

Beccy Gordon comes from a family with a rich history in auto racing – brother Robby had a distinguished career in Indy, NASCAR and off-road racing; sister Robyn is the first woman to score an overall win in the Baja 1000; father Bob was a longtime combatant in off-road racing; and great-grandfather Huntley was an Indy car driver in the early 1900s. Beccy's husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is currently a driver for Andretti Autosport in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

"I'm really looking forward to driving the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb competition this year," said Beccy. "I am very excited to be part of this challenge and also to drive a 100% electric-powered car since this type of vehicle will likely play a major role in both our daily transportation and motorsports in the future."  

Mitsubishi Motors will be entering a pair of 2012 Mitsubishi i racing cars in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event: an essentially stock version of the electric-powered 2012 Mitsubishi i (to be driven by Beccy Gordon) along with an advanced race-spec version of the electric vehicle (EV), the Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype (to be driven by two-time Paris-Dakar Rally champion, Hiroshi Masuoka).

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype race car features an enhanced Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and braking system. Engineers and researchers from Mitsubishi Motors and numerous EV component and systems suppliers will be on hand to record and analyze data from both cars entered in the 2012 Pikes Peak event, using the challenging race as an important R&;D exercise to further the advancement of the current Mitsubishi i production vehicle as well as for future EVs, Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) models.

For more information on the 2012 Mitsubishi i, please log on to i.mitsubishicars.com and media.mitsubishicars.com. To learn more about the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, please visit ppihc.com.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
                 
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. In November of 2011, MMNA launched the battery-powered electric vehicle Mitsubishi i as part of a corporate mission to offer consumers more environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This battery-powered electric vehicle technology addresses the need for vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions and support a growing agenda for sustainability. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.