New Range Rover Sport Sets New Pikes Peak Records for Production Vehicles [w/Video]

One could expect that many series production sports cars would try their luck on Pikes Peak, but not a Range Rover. However, automakers these days use any opportunity they can to promote their new products, and this is exactly what Land Rover has done with the new generation of the Range Rover Sport.

Apparently, Land Rover found out there was no record for production SUVs on the 12.42-mile (19.99-km) hill climb course, so it decided to set one with the 2014 Range Rover Sport. Not only did it do that, but the SUV also broke the record for any kind of production-standard vehicle on the Pikes Pike International Hill Climb course.

The Range Rover Sport completed the course from a standing start in 12 minutes 35.61 seconds – averaging 59.17 mph (95.23 km/h) on the winding asphalt road. The record was independently timed and sanctioned by PPIHC (Pikes Peak International Hill Climb), the organizers of the annual competition at the Colorado venue.

The Pikes Peak course goes through 156 corners as it ascends beyond the tree line from 9,390 feet (2,860m) above sea level to 14,110 feet (4,300m). At that altitude, the air contains only 58 percent of the oxygen it does at sea level, diminishing engine performance and blunting human physical and mental performance.

The new record was set by a Range Rover Sport with a 510PS 5.0-liter supercharged petrol V8 engine. The only modifications to the production specification were the fitment of a roll cage and harness seatbelts to meet racing safety requirements. 

The Range Rover Sport was driven at the record run by American competition and stunt driver Paul Dallenbach. The current outright course record is 9 minutes 46.164 seconds, set by Rhys Millen last year in the Time Attack division in a production-based but radically modified Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

You can watch the Range Rover Sport’s record run in the video below.

By Dan Mihalascu

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