Kia returns to Targa Newfoundland with Forte Koup and a special wish

ST. JOHN’S (September 7, 2010) – Nine years after a young Kia Canada Inc. dipped a tentative toe into Canada’s motorsport waters, the company returns to Canadian motorsports and Targa Newfoundland 2010 with a dramatic new Forte Koup, an ambitious new commitment and a new partner with a big wish.

A new 2010 Kia Forte Koup will be co-driven by Adam Hill, who originally hails from Perth, Australia, and now calls Vancouver home, and Mark Kostick of Edmonton. The Koup has been entered in the Modern Division of Targa and will carry the banner for Team Wishful Thinking as part of a partnership to raise $100,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation.

“Kia Canada is very excited to utilize the 2010 Targa Newfoundland as its official debut for motorsports in Canada,” said Jack Sulymka, public relations manager of Kia Canada Inc. “You couldn’t ask for a better venue for our return and we expect the Koup to turn a few heads.”

Both drivers are affiliated with Kia Canada: Kostick is the General Manager at Sherwood Kia in Edmonton and Hill is Chief Executive Officer of Omni Corporation, provider of Kia Canada extended warranties.

Kia dealers across Canada have joined the fundraising effort by committing a portion of the proceeds of each vehicle sold between August 16 and September 18, 2010.

“Kia Canada retailers across Canada are squarely behind us on this endeavour,” said Kostick. “They understand that the Children’s Wish Foundation is a great charity and want to see the car perform well.”

The Forte Koup, finished in racing red, was donated by Kia Canada for the rally. Sherwood Kia modified the vehicle to make it rally-ready for the class. The new 2.4-litre Forte Koup promises performance to match its dramatic looks, with a mix of power, handling and durability ideally suited to the rigors of a week of competition.

After the competing in Targa, the vehicle will tour the vast majority of auto shows in Canada and will be located in the new Kia Canada auto show display. In early spring, 2011, the vehicle will be auctioned-off and all proceeds will be donated to The Children’s Wish Foundation.

Kia was among the earliest corporate supporters of Targa, fielding a then-new Kia Rio for the media team of auto writer Bob English and local radio personality Ken Ash in the inaugural Targa Newfoundland in 2002. Over the next three years, Kia cars won class honours for the company several times.

Donations to the Targa fund raising efforts can be made at: http://www.childrenswish.ca/targa http://www.childrenswish.ca/targa .

Follow the Koup and Team Wishful Thinking’s daily experiences at: www.kia.ca/targa http://www.kia.ca/targa

Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 9th annual Targa Newfoundland will start in St. John’s on Saturday, September 11, 2010, and end back in the capital Saturday, September 18. The competition will cover more than 2,000 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of Newfoundland, including up to 450 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa stages. Competitors have come from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Holland, Germany, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and the U.K. for the first editions of Targa Newfoundland and international interest continues to build with competitors registering daily.