Pikes Peak record attempt
British team attempts to smash Pikes Peak hill climb record in 1150bhp Ford RS200
A team of Brits is aiming to make history at this year’s Pikes Peak hill climb.
Essex-based Mach 2 Racing is entering a 1150bhp Ford RS200 in partnership with Avon Tyres with the hope of being the first team to break the ten-minute barrier on July 19. The record for climbing Pikes Peak currently stands at 10.01.41, set in 2007 by a Suzuki XL7. It beat a best time that had stood for 13 years.
Mach 2 will be hoping the current record is crushed far sooner, and its RS200 has been developed specifically for the event, with a Garrett turbo and high-octane fuel delivering 950bhp and 70 litres of nitrous oxide gas offering up an extra 200bhp. It sounds utterly mad, but will have an able pilot in the shape of former British Rallycross champion Mark Rennison.
‘If everything on the day goes right and the weather conditions are good beating the ten-minute barrier shouldn't be a problem. But strange things happen at Pikes Peak, it's a unique event’, says Mark.
The International Hill Climb is an annual event that sets out to find who can scuttle up the Pikes Peak mountain (in Colorado, USA) quickest. The 12.42-mile course scales 4708 feet (from an elevation of 9402 to 14,110 feet) with 156 turns and an average gradient of seven per cent. There’s the small matter of sheer drops of up to 6000 feet to keep in mind, too.
Evo’s had a go at tackling it, though, and you can watch our video of the event here.
