Kia Racing Wins First-Ever GRAND-AM Road Racing Championships

After just two seasons and 20 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) races, Kia Motors America's motorsports program achieved championship status today when the No. 10 Infinity Audio Forte Koup crossed the finish line in seventh place and earned Nic Jönsson and Kia Racing the Driver and Team titles, respectively, for the 2011 CTSCC in the Street Tuner (ST) class.

Kia and racing partner Kinetic Motorsports entered the season finale at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with narrow three-point leads in both standings and co-drivers Jonsson and Michael Galati used the Forte Koup's braking, handling and fuel-efficiency advantages on the 13-turn circuit to battle a field of more than 30 competitors during the 2.5-hour race, propelling Kia to its first-ever GRAND-AM road racing championships.