Rhys Millen
Drift legend · New Zealand / USA
Same skill, two stages: the podium and the screen.
The link between competition drift and Hollywood, a Formula Drift champion who was also the lead stunt driver behind the film that put drifting on the mainstream map.
Son of rally legend Rod Millen, Rhys won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 during the series' formative era, taking the title in a Pontiac GTO and later becoming the face of Hyundai's drift program, always known for precision.
His biggest cultural mark is on film: he was the lead stunt driver and driving coordinator on "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (2006), the movie that introduced drifting to a global mainstream audience. That makes him the cleanest single bridge between real competition drift and drift-in-cinema, alongside Keiichi Tsuchiya, who also consulted on the film.
Beyond drift he became a Pikes Peak icon, setting outright records on the mountain, and continued stunt and exhibition work, the athlete who proved drift skill translates straight to the big screen.
At a glance
- Role: Cinema bridge
- Region: New Zealand / USA
Career highlights
- 2005: Formula Drift champion. Wins the title in the series' early championship era.
- 2006: Tokyo Drift lead stunt driver. Drives and coordinates the drifting for the film that mainstreamed the sport.
- Pikes Peak: Hill-climb record holder. Sets outright records on Pikes Peak, precision beyond the drift arena.
Source: Rhys Millen Racing