The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is one of those old-school events that when you hear about, you’re always kind of amazed still exists. It’s perhaps not quite as bonkers as it used to be (the gravel sections have long been replaced with asphalt) but it’s still an event that everyone wants to win (hey, maybe it can be Fernando Alonso’s next move).
Peugeot proved that back in 2013 when Loeb set a new record with the 208 T16 (which was basically a repurposed 908 LMP1 car) with a time of 8:13.878.
Dumas and the VW I.D. R did it in 7:57.148.
The initial aim was just to set a new electric vehicle record (which it did by more than a minute), but as it turns out, the rumours of it breaking the overall record turned out to be true, too. Even more amazingly, the track wasn’t even completely dry at the time. How much faster could Dumas have gone?! The advantage of an electric car is that the motors develop consistent power at all altitudes, whereas internal combustion engines struggle a bit in the thin air of the mountain.
It looks and sounds just as fast as you’d expect, too. And because being electric means it’s quiet, it’s fitted with a siren for safety reasons which just makes it sound even more badass and futuristic – if a little amusing.
#PikesPeak record is SHATTERED! Romain Dumas flies up the mountain in electric #VW #ID R
⏱ 7:57.148 is awesome
An electric car is the new record holder on the world’s most famous #hillclimb, first under 8 min. Welcome to the future people#ChargedToThePeak ⛰ pic.twitter.com/d5Is0Oeqpw— Sirish Chandran (@SirishChandran) June 24, 2018
As if shattering the Pikes Peak record wasn’t enough, Dumas and Volkswagen will be taking the car to the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month. Will Nick Heidfeld’s record run in a McLaren MP4/13 finally be beaten after 20 years?
