The 2014 Range Rover Sport, an all-new model based on the latest Range Rover’s lightweight aluminium platform, has set a new record for a production-standard vehicle on Colorado’s unforgiving Pikes Peak hill climb.
Land Rover set the record with a 503bhp 5.0-litre supercharged version of the 2014 Range Rover Sport. It completed the treacherous ascent from a standing start in just 12 minutes 35.61 seconds, averaging 59.17mph in the capable hands of Paul Dallenbach, three times overall winner at the Pikes Peak competition and former teammate of contributing editor Richard Meaden. The vehicle was production spec apart from the fitment of a regulation roll cage and harnesses.
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Dallenbach said: ‘There’s no margin for error at Pikes Pike – you only need to misjudge one of those 156 turns and you’re into the trees or over the edge of the mountain. To take on this place the way I did today, you need complete confidence in your vehicle, and the Range Rover Sport sure gave me that – it’s fast, responsive and agile.’
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb competition is held on a 12.42-mile stretch of road that climbs over 1400m to the summit of Pikes Peak mountain, a heady 4300m above sea level.
