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After a huge wildfire delayed the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, it has finally had its day in the spotlight, and it did not disappoint. The entire PPIHC was chock-full of craziness and highlights, along with some low-lights worthy of mention. The biggest highlight of the day was seeing a record set at last year’s race fall. It fell not only once, but twice in only 10 starts. Switzerland’s Romain Dumas – a PPIHC rookie – fired up the hill, completing the course in just 9:46.18 in his 2012 Porsche GT3 RS. This demolished the 9:51.278 record set by Nobuniro Tajima In 2011. Just 10 starts later, Rhys Millen, an 18-year PPIHC veteran, beat Dumas’ time by 0.02 seconds in his 2012 Hyundai Genesis coupe. Yeah, figure that one out; a Hyundai beat a Porsche GT3 RS. Dejected, Dumas vowed never to race Pike’s Peak again, claiming it is unfair because he raced in rainy conditions, while Millen got a drier track to run on. In all honesty, though, 10 starts just doesn’t seem like a long enough time frame to cause a huge discrepancy in track conditions. We’re calling “Sore loser” on this one. That’s no way to get a good name in the racing world. A huge low-light in this year’s race is the fact that the 2011 champion and former record holder, Nobuniro Tajima, didn’t even get a shot at the title, as his electric motor burned up. Tajima had a pretty good chance to win the race in back-to-back years, but that was apparently not in the cards this year. We’re sure he’ll be back near the top next year. Let’s take a look at the top-3 in each class, plus the top-10 overall results. Click past the jump to see these results. 250 Division This division consists of all 250 cc motorcycles and dirt bikes.
450 Division This division consists of all motorcycles and dirt bikes with a 450 cc engine.
750 Pro This division covers singe-cylinder 4-stroke 700 cc dirt bikes and twin-cylinder 750 cc dirt bikes.
1205 Division This division covers all dirt bikes that are 900 cc or greater with 2- or 3-cylinder engines.
Electric This class, as you would expect, covers all of your electric vehicles
Exhibition Powersport This is an interesting class that includes all powerssport vehicles – Utility-Terrain Vehicles, ATVs, 750 cc and up quads, etc. – that simply do not fit in any other category.
Exhibition Much like the Exhibition Powersports division, these are cars, trucks, and SUVs that simply do not fit in any other division.
Open Wheel Just like the name implies, this division includes open-wheel racers of all kinds. This is typically one of the fastest divisions in the entire race. Unfortunately, there are no lap times listed to the open wheel division at this time. Pikes Peak Open These are cars that look similar to their stock counterparts, yet they have had heavy modifications performed on the engines, transmissions, and suspensions.
Quad Modified The only limitations in this class are its dimensions and the fact that the engine displaces only 500 cc. Other than that, the options are wide open on these quads.
Sidecar These are exactly what the division title says they are... Motorcycles with sidecars, a driver, and a passenger. As expected, not many people are crazy enough to compete in this division, leaving only three teams this year.
Super Stock Car These are essentially PPIHC-ready NSACAR vehicles. They are built for two purposes: to be fast and to be safe. That is it. This class had only three participants and no times are available at this time. Time Attack This division is for production-based, two-and four-wheel-drive vehicles only. They must also be a closed-body variety.
*New PPIHC record Unlimited This division is a no-holds-barred division. The cars can be built to any specification, just as long as they pass the initial safety inspection.
Vintage This division is set up for only classic bikes with a 650 cc or 750 cc engine and twin-cylinders.
Vintage Automobile Any classic automobile is welcome in this class, but it must pass the safety inspection.
Overall Standings The overall winner was determined by only a fraction of a second, as Rhys Millen beat Romain Dumas’ record-setting time by just 0.02 seconds. The remainder of the top-10 list is pretty straightforward with the exception of Douglas Siddens’ 2009 Polaris RZR-X coming in 10th. The RZR-X is a pretty bad-ass UTV, but to read about a UTV being in the top-10 of a race that included some of the most powerful cars in the world is simply awesome. At least it wasn’t a Kawasaki Mule we guess!
8 comments: 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Results and (...) The result was surprising to me. The cars which won in the first place are really deserving, but I never knew that they could give a performance like that.
 The result is relieving. My admired cars are won in the Pikes Peak, and they are at the first place.
 I’m glad that the Pikes Peak has begun despite the moved schedule caused by the wildfires happen around the California.
 I’ve enjoyed the show when the Exhibition Powersports started. And I must that the Polaris did a good job on the hill climb.
 I think this hill climb is the best so far. A lot of deserving participants win for this year. What drives me the excitement most, is the open-wheel competition.
 Oh, what happened to the 1965 Ford Mustang? It’s the one that I’m expecting to be in the first place.
 I’ve never imagined that the Toyota Motorsport TMG EVP002. It’s fifteen seconds faster than, I-MiEV Evolution.
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Posted on
08.17.2012 @ 00:39