Dumas Wins Pikes Peak Hill Climb; Cunningham Second Overall in Acura

Photo: James Holland/Romain Dumas Racing

Romain Dumas has claimed overall victory in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with sports car racing drivers locking out the top two positions in the 95th running of the world-renowned event.

The Frenchman took his specially equipped Norma MXX RD Limited to a 9:05.672 time, unable to eclipse his sub-nine-minute winning time from last year due to am issue with the car’s spark plugs.

It marked Dumas’ third win in the event in the last four years.

“It’s difficult to put words to this victory,” Dumas said. “The primary objective was to win, which is what we did and it’s never easy here. Never.

“The second objective was to get closer to the outright record.

“After the practice days, we had a decent idea of what kind of overall time was possible. But unfortunately, this will remain a hypothetical time after the broken spark plugs, and that’s disappointing.

“We got first place but we wanted so much more that I’m unable to feel completely satisfied today.”

Dumas’ time was nearly 30 seconds clear of the 9:33.797 recorded by Peter Cunningham, who finished second overall in his RealTime Racing-prepared Acura TLX GT.

The Pirelli World Challenge veteran, in his Pikes Peak debut, claimed top class honors in the PPC-Open category in his four-wheel drive Acura, which competed in PWC competition last year.

A number of upgrades were made to the GT-based car, including aero modifications but having remained with the largely stock 2.4-liter twin-turbo V6 engine Cunningham and Ryan Eversley ran in PWC.

RESULTS: Pikes Peak Intl. Hill Climb

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John