Dumas targets Goodwood Hillclimb record

July 12, 2018 0 Comments

Fresh from smashing the Pikes Peak Hillclimb record, Romain Dumas and the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak car have their sights set on breaking the Goodwood Festival of Speed record.

The I.D. R Pikes Peak is making its competitive debut in Europe this weekend, at the world’s largest automotive garden party, hosted by Lord March.

In 2013, Jonny Cocker set a new fastest time of 47.34 seconds for the iconic Goodwood Hillclimb in a Lola-Drayson B12 69/EV. The all-time record is held by former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld when, back in 1999, he covered the short 1.86-kilometre route in 41.6 seconds at the wheel of a McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 Formula 1 car.

It’s not an easy record to break, but Dumas is up for the challenge.

“I am really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the I.D. R Pikes Peak at the Goodwood Festival of Speed,” says Dumas, who wears a Stilo ST5 F Zero 8860 helmet. “The race in Duke of Richmond’s estate is a very special event that is steeped in tradition. The best drivers in the world line up in some legendary racing cars in a great atmosphere. The I.D. R Pikes Peak may still be very young, but the record-breaking run on Pikes Peak has already made it a ‘living legend’.”

“It is a great honour for us to take part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed,” adds Sven Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport Director. “I still get goosebumps when I think about the magnificent success on Pikes Peak. However, that race is history now. We are looking ahead and looking forward to showing European fans the I.D. R Pikes Peak. Our brand has dedicated itself to electromobility, and we want to show everyone how emotional this topic can be, before the first Volkswagen range with fully-electric drive is launched in 2020.”