Hyundai Shines, Ford Falters And The Hill Is Still King--Pikes Peak Reflections

Hyundai Steals The Show

Rhys Millen, competing in the 2WD Time Attack Class in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe, wasn't exactly a dark horse but he definitely surpassed expectations.

He started his run with standing water on the start line due to a storm that blew in during late morning. Practice runs days earlier were promising but the conditions on race day threatened to undermine his run, and possibly his chance to break the record he set last year in a Pontiac Solstice.

Millen managed to hack 22 seconds off the class record despite the less-than-ideal conditions. In fact, his time of 12:09 was quicker than all but one of the cars competing in the less-restrictive Pikes Peak Open class. Considering Millen's Genesis is driving the rear wheels only, his accomplishment is nothing less than remarkable.

It could have been even quicker. Near the top, he lost fifth gear, and his tires--DOT-legal as per the class rules--corded. Rather, annihilated.

"These tires are good for about eight miles," Millen joked. "They were going away four or five corners from the top. Then I heard the tire go 'pow' just as I crossed the finish line." He reckons he lost "about fifteen seconds" at the top as a result of the mechanical issues.

At the summit, Millen said he'd be back next year to challenge Tajima in the Unlimited class. When pressed, he hinted that a Genesis Coupe carrying the sedan's V8 in a midship placement might be in the cards for just such an attempt.

First Time For Ford

Ford's effort at Pikes Peak was a ultimately a mixed bag. During practice, driver Andreas Eriksson rolled one of the Fiestas, and the engine in the remaining car blew after it was leaned out in a failed effort to stretch the undersized fuel tank. Driver Marcus Gronholm expressed frustration about the car's power delivery on the evening of the final test day. "I like the road; it is very smooth. It is the altitude that is really the problem."

Gronholm went on to explain that the car's boost response becomes sluggish as he climbs the hill, which kills the tires. Keeping the engine on the boil through the switchbacks involves a lot of revs and, in turn, a lot of wheelspin and sideways driving. "This looks good, but... " He then glanced at imaginary watch on his wrist to make his point.

On race day, Eriksson crashed out again. Gronholm drove like a man possessed. He was employing a lot of left-foot braking to keep the turbo spooled in the switchbacks, though, and this driving style eventually took its toll on the brakes.

The right rear brake caught on fire near the top of the hill, melting the tire's valve stem and causing the tire to deflate. Furthermore, the engine ceased making boost altogether and started misfiring at some point well before the finish.

Still, Gronholm's 11:28.9 run is a decent showing considering the team's limited practice and the debilitating mechanical woes they encountered.

The Fiestas looked flat-out fantastic, too, and we hope Ford don't throw in the towel completely after this first attempt.

With a more measured testing program, the Fiestas' sophomore effort can be a force with which to be reckoned.

Tajima Quickest But The Hill Still Won

A purpose-built car with a Suzuki sticker on the side doesn't have much relevance to the real world of cars, but that's what makes Pike Peak so unique. 

Competition from the Fiestas didn't seem to matter to defending record-holder Nobuhiro Tajima--he came back to Pikes Peak with the goal of running his Suzuki up the hill in less than 10 minutes, and little else. In practice, he was quick and reliable but it wasn't clear-cut whether he would topple the ten-minute barrier.

When he received his time of 10:15.4 at the top of the hill, he was at once relieved and frustrated. "The gravel is very slippery. Very, very slippery," said Tajima.

Congratulations to Tajima on another victory. He says he'll be back next year, and we're curious whether he'll make major changes to his ride. The top portion of the road will be paved, leaving only a short stretch of gravel remaining.

After 2010, the whole road will be paved, and a chapter of Pikes Peak will be closed forever. Expect to see many more formula-style cars and guys in Ferraris once the gravel is gone. The 10s will fall, and the asterisks will rise.

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor