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 | Pikes Peak: Motul returns to conquer the 90th Pikes Peak Hill Climb race.
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Motul, manufacturer of world class lubricants, returns for the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb being held this Sunday, August 12, near Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA). The legendary 'Race to the Clouds' was originally scheduled for July 8, but devastating wildfires in the surrounding region required a postponement of the race until this weekend.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is rich with history, the first race up the mountain being held in 1916. 2012 marks the first time the event will be run on a 100% asphalt surface, snaking around 156-turns on a 12.42-mile course while climbing to a 14,110-foot elevation summit. Even with the event's postponement, 186 international competitors with cars, trucks and motorcycles will make this weekend's climb.
Motul will serve as technical partner at Pikes Peak to no less than seven cars which are represented in four of the multiple categories on the entry list. Each competitor has just one timed attempt so there is no room for any mechanical weakness.
Headlining the Motul line-up in the Unlimited Class is the French 'No Limit 'Dacia Duster of Jean-Philippe Dayraut. He is the former SuperTouring and Andros Trophy champion who is returning to Pikes Peak for the second time with the express purpose of improving upon his 2011 third place finish.
While testing his Tork Engineering and Sodemo prepared car two months ago, he shattered the previous record thanks to the 100% asphalt surface. Dayraut estimates the increase in speed equates to more than a second per kilometer so expect existing records to tumble on Sunday, 12th August. Dayraut of Montrabe, France has just one thing on his mind - to win.
Motul is supporting four cars in the Time Attack class including the Hyundai Genesis Veloster Coupe of Californian Rhys Millen who finished second overall in 2011.
Son of Pikes Peak legend, Rod Millen, Rhys is also supported by Motul in Formula Drift and Global Rallycross. The six-time Class Champion and 17-time competitor faces stiff competition in the 25-strong class. Kash Singh will also line up for his second attempt in the 2WD Time Attack class in his Ford Mustang Shelby.
Moving from the Unlimited to the Time Attack class for 2012 is two-time Open Champion Dave Carapetyan. Rally Ready Motorsports has used Motul products on his Subaru WRX STi as the Texan recounts: "Motul is the life blood of this car. We can reliably make very consistent power and manage an effective cooling and braking system entirely due to our exclusive use of Motul lubricants. I am a firm believer in the power of Motul for the grassroots competitor."
The fourth Motul-supported entrant in the Time Attack class is Rookie Anthony Perez of FMR (Fatman Racing) who is driving a Honda Civic, a platform he's very familiar with. The three-time SCCA class champion is from Colorado Springs and is sure to receive a huge amount of local support.
Returning in the Exhibition Powersports category is Travis Tollett, a quadriplegic driver who made his debut at Pikes Peak in 2009. Tollett, with experienced co-driver John Stallworth of JSR Performance, is driving a 2012 Polaris RZR900 with his sights set on a strong result.
Also supported by Motul will be the Scion Rally xD team driven by Canadian Andrew Comrie-Picard in the Exhibition category. This is the team's first assault on the mountain. Motul is delighted to extend its support of the Rally xD team from their usual arena competing in the American Rally Championship.
2012/08/08 | 15:18 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/JONES
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