Top 10 Cars of the 2011 LA Auto Show

8. Kia Optima Race Car

It’s hard to believe, but this is not a concept. That’s right, Kia will be taking its Optima family sedan racing next year in the Sports Car Club of America’s World Challenge series. Competing in the GTS (Grand Touring Sport) class, a pair of turbocharged SX models will battle alongside cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro. the GTS rules allow quite a bit of modification from the factory car, helping a big front-drive sedan compete against more purpose-built rear-drive sports cars. The Optima will be the first Korean car to compete in the series.

Built by Kia’s racing partner Kinetic Motorsports, the duo have also teamed up on a Rio B-Spec race car, as part of a new B-Spec racing series that includes vehicles like the Fiat 500, Honda Fit and Mazda2.

GALLERY: Kia Optima Race Car