Kia EV6 GT completes the most beautiful race in the world

The Kia EV6 GT has completed the 1000 Miglia Green 2023, finishing as the highest-ranking performance electric vehicle entered into the race and sixth overall. 

The self-proclaimed ‘most beautiful race in the world’, the 1000 Miglia is an unparalleled test of endurance for both car, driver and navigator, requiring performance, precision and skill in order to score well throughout the race. The 1000 Miglia Green is a sub-category of the historic event, open only to fully electric cars.

The 2023 event was the longest in the race’s near 100-year history, spanning five days and more than 2,000 kilometres. Not only was the Kia EV6 GT the first Korean car to ever compete in the 1000 Miglia Green, but the pro rally driver pairing of Jade Paveley and Ross Leach was the only team to represent Great Britain in the race. In addition, the event marked the first time that an EV6 GT has been entered into a competitive, FIA-approved motor race.

The intrepid rally driving husband and wife team were able to flex their impressive rally pedigree during the gruelling race by skilfully navigating the event and collecting a large number of stage wins along the way. As the teams raced back to Brescia on the final day of proceedings, team Kia brought the EV6 GT home to a top six finish, the highest-scoring performance EV.

Designed from the outset as a true GT car, the EV6 GT offers blistering performance from its twin electric motor setup that together deliver 577bhp and 740Nm of torque through all four wheels. Mated with a powerful 77.4kWh battery, the car is capable of covering 263 miles (WLTP combined) per charge. Charging is equally rapid, thanks to the car’s E-GMP platform that supports 800V charging, enabling 10-80 per cent charge in as little as 18 minutes at the fastest charge points.

Importantly and despite the considerable distance and demanding nature of the roads and speeds required for the race, each of the timed legs travelled during the event were completed using a single charge of the car. Charging was completed using Kia Charge and some destination charging where possible at hotels at the end of each day. Kia Charge offers access to more than 540,000 charge points across Europe, enabling simple single account access to a large number of charging networks and operators.

The 1000 Miglia Green’s blend of rapid road driving under Police escort along with precision time-trial and special stages on closed roads were the perfect test for the car’s considerable performance. 0-62mph is dispatched in just 3.5 seconds, onto the car’s official top speed of 162mph. This made it the second fastest EV to be entered into this year’s race.

The first day of the event saw the cars depart Brescia in northern Italy before passing by Lake Garda, Verona and onwards to Ferrara where the first leg ended. Unfortunately, due to a timing equipment failure, the Kia Team started the first day on the back foot, ending in 11^th position overall.

The second day saw the drivers tackle a hillclimb to the top of San Marino, the fifth smallest country in the world, while crossing the Apennine mountains through some intense downpours that made conditions particularly tricky. This was one of the longest legs of the event, having started in Cervia-Milano Marittima and ending in Rome. Some particularly skilful driving and navigating saw Jade and Ross climb the scoreboard to finish the second day in ninth position.

One of the most picturesque sections of the race, the third day saw the racers climb the Tuscan hills pass, undertake several hillcimbs and lake-side time trials before arriving in the famous Piazza del Campo in the city of Sienna. The drivers further climbed the mountains to reach a ski centre close to Pistoia and the leader board to seventh position, before finishing the day in Parma.

The final two shortest legs raced through Alessandria to Milan and then Milan to Brescia – Italy’s City of Culture along with neighbouring Bergamo for 2023 – where the race concluded. Thanks to some accurate timing and the car’s precision handling, the racers managed to increase their score to finish in sixth place overall.

Jade Paveley, rally driver and commentator, said: “This has been an incredible experience and is like no other I’ve ever entered. The EV6 GT proved itself to be not only a competent race car, but an outstanding grand tourer as we travelled Italy at speed and in comfort; and even got to take in a lot of the country’s beautiful scenery. Of course, I’d like to thank the organisers of the 1000 Miglia Green for putting together a great race, and the team at Kia UK for the opportunity to take part in one of the world’s most prestigious rally events. The EV6 GT is every bit worthy of wearing the GT badge. Not only is it exceptionally fast, but it’s also comfortable for long distances, fun to drive and not once did we have range anxiety as a result of its great driving range.”

Ross Leach, rally driver and navigator, added: “The 1000 Miglia Green is a fantastic challenge that blends fast open road driving with time-trials and special stages. It’s a great way to put any car through its paces and although incredibly demanding, the EV6 GT never skipped a beat and was a constant pleasure to be in. Particularly where outright speed and handling are concerned, the GT is able to easily hold its own, even against those in the supercar segment. We’re delighted to have participated in this year’s event, put the EV6 GT to the test and come home in sixth place overall but as the highest-scoring performance EV.”

The EV6 GT made history for Korea as the first car from the country to take place in the 1000 Miglia Green 2023 and the event also marked the first time ever an EV6 GT has been entered into a competitive, FIA-approved motor race.