Former Subaru Impreza privateer Stéphane Verdier joins Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) with Disney backing for a commitment in the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship with one of their 550+bhp four-wheel driven Hyundai Veloster SuperCars.

US based Frenchman Stéphane Verdier has been announced by Rhys Millen Racing as the second driver of a RMR Hyundai Veloster SuperCar in the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship series. Verdier’s commitment will be backed by Disney XD’s upcoming animated series ‘Motorcity’ when driving the number #12 car during the GRC season. The former Subaru campaigner brings a great amount of experience and personality into the RMR programme.

Stéphane Verdier has a long heritage in competition sports. Born in the French town of Nice, his interest for speed and action grew early and he became a Junior World Speed-skiing record holder as well as a member of the national French Downhill Ski Team. When 17 years old he converted to the world of motorsport and after a while he established his own team ‘Stephan Verdier Racing’, to become a professional racer in 2002.

In 2004 Verdier won the Rally Production Class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, while in the following year he claimed victory of the PPIHC’s Open Rally Class. From 2006 on he set his focus on Drifting competing for the next five seasons in Formula Drift events. He is also one of the very few sportsmen who competed in both, the Winter and Summer X Games and in 2010 he claimed fourth place overall of the Rallycross runnings in X Games 16.

After the inaugural GRC series in 2011 Verdier was the highest placed privateer, in three out of four events he made it to the podium to eventually finish fourth overall in the point standings. Preparing for the second year the former Subaru Impreza driver sets his focus on a professional programme with RMR and their well prepared factory backed Hyundai Veloster SuperCar. “I’m really proud to have Disney XD and their new series ‘Motorcity’ as a title sponsor for the full season of GRC. Make sure you watch it starting in April on Disney XD. Being a part of Rhys Millen Racing, this partnership gives me the best chance at the championship. They are one of the top teams in GRC and I know we’ll do great. GRC is shaping up to be a fantastic season for 2012. There are a lot of new drivers, teams and with some the events taking place at NASCAR and Indy Car events, we will be exposed to a large audience. We also have a great TV package with ESPN showing the races live. All together it’s going to be incredible,” stated Verdier a couple of weeks prior to the GRC kick-off at Charlotte.