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Dumas: VW Targeted Overall Pikes Peak Record in 2019

Volkswagen’s Pikes Peak effort curtailed one year early due to overall record breaking run…

Photo: Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s all-electric Pikes Peak project was initially a two-year program, with the aim of breaking the overall record in 2019, according to Romain Dumas.

The Frenchman shattered the all-time record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June, driving Volkswagen’s purpose-built I.D. R Pikes Peak prototype.

The German automaker stated from the outset that it only aimed to break the record for electric vehicles this year, but Dumas has revealed that it had planned to return in 2019 to go one better.

Breaking the overall record on the program’s first attempt at Pikes Peak this year resulted in it being curtailed a year early, with Dumas setting a time of 7:57.148 to break Sebastien Loeb’s previous record, set in a petrol-powered car, by over 15 seconds.

“It was not the plan to win overall this year, it was the plan to win next year,” Dumas told e-racing365. “It cut the program a little bit earlier [than planned].”

The four-time Pikes Peak winner has pledged to return next year, but likely in a smaller program, and not with Volkswagen.

“It’s already clear that Volkswagen will not go back to Pikes Peak,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that I will not go back, and for sure I will go back with some customer again and with my own team as I have in the past.”

Dumas Looking at New Opportunities with Volkswagen

Despite the Pikes Peak program coming to an end, Dumas says he’s still working with Volkswagen to find potential future projects.

“I hope we will do some new stuff, we have some ideas to do new stuff with Volkswagen,” he confirmed. “Hopefully it goes through. It will be decided soon.

“I tried the rallycross car last month, the WRX, but now WRX is not in a good shape as you see with the Peugeot story.

“For me, it was the first time, and it was why not do something for the future that I could do.”

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.

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