(Episode 7/7) Highlights of the year 2018: records

Dumas' record at Pikes Peak
An Alesian dispossessed Sébastien Loeb of the record for the climb of Pikes Peak (Colorado) in June 2018. If Romain Dumas' performance caused quite a stir in the world of motorsport, the progress of the Volkswagen ID R along the 20km timed course was silent. The prototype was equipped with two electric motors, together delivering 500 kW for a weight of less than 1 kg. The icing on the cake was that the acceleration exceeded that of a F1, with 2”25 to go from 0 to 100 km/h.

Arrived at an altitude of 4 meters in just 300'7"57, Romain Dumas sticks more than 16 seconds to the nine-time world rally champion (WRC). “We have exceeded even our own most optimistic expectations with this result, commented the double winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “The ID R Pikes Peak is the most impressive car I have ever driven in competition. Electric drive means a lot is different and I learned a lot during the project. »

The success of electric over thermal is total since the Volkswagen ID R then wins the Goodwood hill climb (Great Britain), not without experiencing heat:

The crazy records of the Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO
The extreme racing car. The figures are enough to make you dream: the final evolution of the German manufacturer's LM P1 prototype brings its power to 1 horsepower, for a minimum weight of 200 kg and a level of support increased by 849%. With such a rocket, Neel Jani broke the lap record at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium, before the 1 F2018 runs faster in August) in 1'41"770.

“For me, we are entering another dimension with the level of grip achieved. I didn't imagine this possible before. Things happen so quickly on the 919 Evo that the reactions must be very different from what I was used to in WEC »

If the curve speed and acceleration of the Porsche in the Ardennes didn't impress you, take a look at the on-board camera on the Norschleife instead. This time in the expert hands of Timo Bernhard, the prototype completed the 20,8 km of “The Green Hell” in 5’19”546. Stefan Bellof's iconic record is exploded by 52 seconds! The symbolic bar of 400 km/h is even approached in the last sector of the hot lap:

Contacted by CARhebdo after this unique adrenaline rush in the history of motorsport, the German told us about his pride in taking over from Stefan Bellof. “When he came home from the Nordschleife on Friday evening, his father, who was over 90 years old, called me. He said to me “Well done Timo, I respect you enormously. » I had already met him 20 years ago at a kart race organized in honor of his son, the Stefan Bellof Memorial Race. I took pole and finished 2nd. We have kept in touch ever since. That really touched me from him. »