Paul Dallenbach has smashed the qualifying record for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with his #98 PVA setting a time of 4:02.5.
Dallenbach set the time, which was five seconds faster than the previous record of 4:07.8, on the bottom part of the course up to Glen Cove during Thursday’s qualifying session, with his ultimate aim this year being that of breaking the Open Wheel record on the full course.
“The car handled great up there and gave me the confidence to push harder,” said Dallenbach. “Loophole Racing has done an amazing job prepping the car so I am really having fun driving this car on Pikes Peak. We are fortunate to have sponsors who are so generous and into racing, actively participating in our race preparation.
“It is great to have them as partners and great to have them on the mountain, cheering me on.”
The record is now the third one for Dallenbach, with the Basalt native setting the Time Attack Class (9:46.001) and Production Car (12:35) records in 2013. Loophole, however, is just hoping for a successful return to the Peak, with the Colorado Springs-based team losing their workshop in the Black Forest fire last year.
The 2014 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place tomorrow (Sunday, June 29), with crowds set to be around the 8000 mark.