In motorsport, progress is usually very incremental, and its fruits translate into tenths or even hundredths of a second gained. However, while that statement may stand true when it comes to the conventional types of motorsport, doing the annual Pikes Peak hillclimb is like successfully completing a fast and consistent lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife – a very special achievement, and therefore the normal rules don’t apply.

For instance, this year, “newcomer” Sebastien Loeb managed to win by shaving more than a minute and a half off last year’s 9:46.164 time, set by Rhys Millen!

The Frenchman took the newly-built Peugeot 208 T16 up the treacherous twists of the (now) all-tarmac course in a hugely impressive 8:13.878, while Millen also improved his time this year, coming second to Loeb with a time of 9:02.192, or around 50 seconds slower over the 12.72-mile (20.35 km) distance and 156 corners.

It may have been partly down to the 875hp 208 T16, but it’s still Loeb’s merit to have maintained a very high average speed of 87 mph (145 km/h), and it is another reminder that once you’ve won nine WRC titles, your presence behind the wheel of any car should not be taken lightly.

Apparently, the “ideal theoretical time” for the run was calculated at 8:15, yet Loeb managed to shave two seconds off that.

Scroll down, and watch his run, covered via heli-cam.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

Sebastien Loeb on arrival of the Pikes Peak international hill climb race with the Peugeot 208 T16 pikes peak in Colorado, USA, on June 30th, 2013Sebastien Loeb Performs during the Pikes Peak international hill climb race with the Peugeot 208 T16 pikes peak in Colorado, USA, on June 30th, 2013The Peugeot 208 T16 pikes peak at the Pikes Peak international hill climb race in Colorado, USA, on June 30th, 2013Pikes-Peak-4Pikes-Peak-5Pikes-Peak-6Pikes-Peak-7Pikes-Peak-8Pikes-Peak-9Pikes-Peak-10Pikes-Peak-11Pikes-Peak-12Pikes-Peak-13Pikes-Peak-14Pikes-Peak-15Pikes-Peak-16Pikes-Peak-17Sebastien Loeb after his victory at the Pikes Peak international hill climb race with the Peugeot 208 T16 pikes peak in Colorado, USA, on June 30th, 2013Pikes-Peak-19

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