Why'Alpine Has A110 moved into another category at Pikes Peak?

While it should have been entered in the Time Attack 1 category, theAlpine A110 Pikes Peak finally finds itself in the peloton of the Open category. Explanations.

Published 24/06/2023 à 12:24

Dorian Grangier

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Why'Alpine Has A110 moved into another category at Pikes Peak?

© Antonin Vincent / DPPI

The most dedicated fans of the most legendary hill climb will have already noticed it, but a notable change has affected Alpine a few days before his attempt on the 19,9 kilometer climb of Pikes Peak. Originally, the brand with the arrowed A had announced a participation in the American event in the Time Attack 1 category, the current record of which is held by Raphaël Astier (9'23″721 done in 2019, aboard a Porsche 911 GT3).

Half-heartedly, Alpine had mentioned the hope of winning in this category and aiming for the current record… but that will not be the case. L'Alpine A110 Pikes Peak moved to another division, the Open category, while testing was underway on the Colorado asphalt a few days before the fateful meeting. Why such a change ?

To understand, we must first define the contours – admittedly vague – of the category regulations at Pikes Peak. The Time Attack 1 category welcomes “modified production vehicles with two or four-wheel drive, available as standard and produced by a recognized manufacturer. Eligibility is limited to closed body vehicles, which must retain their original engine configuration as well as air-fuel flow, number of cylinders, number of drive wheels and drive wheel location. »

THEAlpine A110 Pikes Peak become too… imposing?

In this game, theAlpine A110 Pikes Peak ticked all the boxes... but a much more precise detail deprived the little French bomber of the Time Attack 1 category. The organizers refused access to this division due to the added aerodynamic surface compared to the base model. , namely theAlpine A110 GT4. Indeed, the additional body surface area – with the imposing fins and front splitter – was deemed too large to compete in the Time Attack 1 category.

THEAlpine A110 Pikes Peak therefore finds itself in the Open category, whose regulations are much broader and where the modifications made by Signatech and Alpine on the tricolor frame are accepted. The only entry criteria: vehicles must be based on a model built by a recognized manufacturer and exterior body parts must be identical to the production model, although aerodynamic appendages and fins are permitted. This is how the Open category notably welcomes the Ford Transit SuperVan 4.2 driven by Romain Dumas, with a power of 1400 horsepower.

In the French clan, this change is welcomed with little importance, since the search for the record is not the primary objective. Only disappointment: not being able to fight for the category victory, since it will be complicated for theAlpine A110 Pikes Peak to compete with some of its new direct adversaries, including Romain Dumas' monstrous van...

ALSO READ > Pikes Peak – Philippe Sinault: “TheAlpine A110 has an incredible affection rating in America »

Dorian Grangier

A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.

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