After winning the most prestigious endurance races in the world, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2010), Spa-Francorchamps (2003, 2010), 24 Hours of the Nürburgring (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (2008), Romain Dumas will tackle another legendary race in motor racing in 2012 : the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb ! The Alès native will take the start of the 90th edition behind the wheel of a Porsche 997 GT3-R.

« I’ve wanted to race on Pikes Peak for a long time » saiad Romain Dumas. « The Audi-Peugeot dual is part of my childhood memories. I remember seeing pictures of Ari Vatanen and I had the chance to meet Walter Rorhl, who was the first to slip under the 11 minute mark. To be at the start of such a legendary race will be like a dream come true. Just from its history and its characteristics, Pikes Peak is a challenge you have to approach with humility. It’s a huge test, and an adventure that will be unlike anything else I’ve done in my career ! »

It’s an understatement to say that the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a legend. Second oldest race in America, after the Indy 500, this hill climb has been run since 1916. On July 8, for its 90th anniversary, more than 80 cars and 100 motorcyles/quads will be at the start. Romain Dumas will also be present to take on the mountain’s challenges, nearly 20km long with more than 150 corners ending at over 14,000 feet in elevation ! The tallest peak in Colorado…

Alongside his Porsche and Audi programs as official driver, as well as his rally schedule run with his proper team, Romain Dumas will be competing in the « race to the clouds » with a Porsche 997 GT3-R. « This first participation will be a learning year » he points out. « I’ll be discovering a new universe, totally impossible to simulate of course. This experience will without a doubt be very interesting. I wanted to make my debut at Pikes Peak in a Porsche, and after thinking long and hard, I decided on the Porsche 997 GT3-R : I know the car and its qualities well ! I have to be smart and realistic : against true specialists of the discipline, whose cars will be much more powerful, I won’t be fighting for the overall win this year. But in time I’d like to add this race to my list of accomplishments !»

Romain Dumas’s team will be taking delivery of the Porsche 997 GT3-R shortly, initially developed for the circuit GT3 category. It will be prepared specifically for Pikes Peak in the Pôle Mécanique of Alès workshops before heading to Colorado Springs at the beginning of July. First test will be held during Spark Motor Festival in France (April 28-29).

Source : Romain Dumas