Romain Dumas breaks Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record, thousands watch
History was made at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday morning. Romain Dumas broke the all-time record by 15 seconds.
His time won’t become official until a ceremony Monday morning, but initial results say Dumas made it up to the top of Pikes Peak in 7 minutes and 57 seconds. If that result stands, Dumas will beat current record holder Sebastian Loeb. He made it to the top five years ago in 8 minutes and 13 seconds.
Dumas was riding the new Volkswagen I.D.R. It’s the first electric race car produced by the company who hasn’t competed at the PPIHC in 31 years.
Before any racers can hit the track, their crews prepare the vehicles all morning long. Jason Fullington, a motorcycle crew member said, “yes, it’s dangerous but I can guarantee we live more in the short time we go up this mountain than most people do their whole lives.”
On the sidelines, all along the mountain are people who come from all over the world to watch these racers. Braden Smith, a recent graduate drove from Seattle with his father Graham to watch. Braden says, “there’s a large history behind this race so it’s amazing to follow.”
Among the drivers, were longtime Colorado resident, David Hackl. He’s raced five times in the PPIHC and says, “you feel every emotion as you go through and as you get closer to the top, you’re just pushing, pushing yourself.”
Dumas’ electric engine sneaked up on people watching. You could hear sirens to warn spectators he was coming from a far distance, but when the car finally drove by, it was over in a second. The zoom left people in awe as they watched historic record shattered.
