• March 3, 2011

In its second year in motorsports in the U.S., Kia is promoting the new turbo version of its Optima sedan by making it the official pace car for Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Races on at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday.

The Irvine, Calif. company's sponsorship of the race includes title sponsorship, making the event the "Kia 200." The car is the first-ever turbocharged vehicle made by Kia and will be the pace car for the Rolex Sports Car Series "Grand Prix of Miami" as well as the CTSCC races on March 5.

Michael Sprague, VP marketing at the company, said the partnership includes on- and off-track activations, and is a step along the way for Kia's development of a U.S. racing program. The company won second place at Daytona International Speedway several weeks ago at the Grand-Am 200 race there.

Kia will have several vehicles on display at the race, and with racing partner Kinetic Motorsports, will run two vehicles in the races.

The Kia 200 will be broadcast on the Speed Channel on Saturday, March 19.