1-megawatt electric car sets a new record at Pikes Peak hillclimb

Electric racing cars are in vogue right now. The first Formula E championship just concluded in London (sadly the Ars-sponsored car did not win), and this side of the pond saw an electric vehicle win the prestigious Pike's Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado, setting a new record in the process. Rhys Millen took his Drive oE PP03 to the top of the mountain in 9:07.022, beating rival Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima by more than 20 seconds.

Ride along with Rhys Millen as he becomes the fastest EV up the side of the mountain. The consequences of getting a corner wrong and going over the side don't bear thinking about.

The annual Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in Colorado is the second-oldest race in the US. It first tooking place in 1916, and it's a unique challenge for man and machine. Starting at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway, cars race one at a time up the side of Pikes Peak mountain, completing 156 turns in 12.4 miles (20km). It may be familiar to you from Gran Turismo 2, featuring prominently in that game, and indeed Polyphony Digital sponsored this year's race, making us wonder if the iconic event will reappear in GT7, whenever that happens to arrive.

For most of the race's long and storied history, Pikes Peak Highway was covered in gravel, but environmental concerns lead to the road being paved all the way to the summit in 2011. Since then, rally cars with supple suspension, good ground clearance, and knobby tires have given way to vehicles more at home on a smooth racetrack than a forest trail.

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