Fastest run of the Race to the Clouds-world record set by Tajima

[July 25] PIKES PEAK, Colo. — Nobuhiro Tajima, President of Suzuki Sport, has won the 85th anniversary run of the world classic Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 10 minutes and one second, breaking the record previously held by New Zealander Rod Millen driving a Toyota 13 years ago.

 Photo:
Sitting on top of the world: This Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special set a new record at the 85th-anniversary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. (Photo courtesy of Suzuki) -click here to enlarge photo
  
   The precise record set by “Monster” Tajima and the SUZUKI SPORT XL7 Hill Climb Special is as below: Nobuhiro Tajima ran the first section to “Picnic Ground” in the elapsed time of 1'42"197, the second section to Glen Cove in 4'29"191, the third section to 16mile point in 7'3"408, then the last section to the finish line in 10'1"408.

   Tajima broke the record previously held by New Zealander Rod Millen driving a Toyota 13 years ago. The new record will be included in the 2008 edition of  the Book of World Records.

    "There is more to racing beyond Formula One," said Tajima, and nothing can demonstrate that more than Pikes Peak.

   Monster" Tajima was driving a new car, which is based on the 2007 Suzuki XL7, the company's flagship SUV in the United States. It is equipped with a 3.6-liter engine that has been outfitted with twin turbochargers.

  Photo:
Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb is based on the 2007 Suzuki XL SUV. (Photo courtesy of Suzuki)
-click here to enlarge photo

    It churns out 993 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Aerodynamics were tweaked, and the downforce achieved is up by more than 35 percent compared to the previous Pikes Peak car, the company said. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, a brutal event on a 156-turn course, is the country's second oldest car race after the Indianapolis 500.

   The magical 10 minute mark is clearly within his reach. Each time he has raced at the event he has improved his time, and his specially prepared XL7 helped him secure his eighth ‘Race to the Sky’ championship in New Zealand in April.
-click here to enlarge photo

    The Pikes Peak hill climb is one of the most famous in the motorsport world, and this year’s event was the 85th running, making it the second oldest auto race in the United States behind the Indianapolis 500.

     The 20 kilometre track boasts 156 turns and an average uphill grade of seven per cent, with a maximum of 10.5 per cent.

-click here to enlarge photo

     The high elevation places unique strain and stress on driver and machine alike, starting 2900 metres above sea level and continues uphill the length of the track to the finish line, located 4300 metres above sea level or more than double the height of Mt Kosciuszko.


     Drivers resort to oxygen bottles to maintain adequate levels of breathing, while the high altitudes strip around 30 per cent of the engine’s horsepower during the final few kilometers.

     This years edition had more than 150 racers competing for the 50,000-dollar purse, with an additional 5,000 dollars for a record-breaking run.

     Monster’s Suzuki XL7 features a twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 that produces a stunning 750 kW (1007 horsepower) at 8500 rpm and 1000 Nm of torque at 6250 rpm.

    Tajima will be taking his own advice as he already has a new goal for Pikes Peak. "I want to try again and beat the 10-minutes barrier," he said.


   Video:2007 Pikes Peak Suzuki Vitara Sets Record P1



   Video:2007 Pikes Peak Suzuki Vitara Sets Record P2


   Video:2007 Pikes Peak Suzuki Vitara Sets Record P3