COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Officials from the Broadmoor Pikes Peak Int’l Hill Climb have announced the return of course record holder Romain Dumas, who will drive a Porsche Clubsport specially-prepared by Champion.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Romain and his team back to Pikes Peak. It will be a real treat for our fans to watch him compete,” said Megan Leatham, Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Int’l Hill Climb.
Dumas’ racing history on America’s Mountain began in 2012 when, as a rookie, he captured the Pikes Peak Open division behind the wheel of a 2012 Porsche GT3R, setting a new division record in the process. Three subsequent wins in the Unlimited division aboard his iconic Norma M20 RD Limited added three King of the Mountain titles to his world-class race resume.
In 2018, Dumas was back behind the wheel of the all-electric Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, a nine-month concept to competition engineering marvel, where his proven knowledge of the course paid off. The former course record of 8:13.878, set by Sébastien Loeb and Peugeot just five years earlier, was shattered when Dumas laid down a blistering time of 7:57.148 and established a new benchmark.
“I am very happy to be back on Pikes Peak with Champion and Porsche,” said Dumas. “This is my first race with Champion, but I know them well from endurance racing. They are really motivated and excited to discover Pikes Peak.”
Etching a new record on America’s Mountain was only the first stop on a worldwide circuit to prove the I.D. R’s exceptional speed and handling. In 2019, Dumas and Volkswagen broke the electric vehicle lap record at the Nürburgring and set a record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Later that year, Dumas made a breathtaking 6.77 mile run up Shan Big Gate Road on China’s Tianmen Mountain.
In preparation for Pikes Peak, Champion Porsche and Champion Motorsports have joined forces to compete in the 99th running with a Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport entered in the Time Attack 1 division. In a fitting return to his Pikes Peak roots, Dumas, a Porsche factory driver, will showcase the excellence of the Champion-prepared Porsche racing vehicle as well his ability to conquer the mountain.
Champion’s deep racing history began with Porsche in the 1990s and continued with Audi in the early 2000s, including victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. Their most noteworthy achievement came in their fourth attempt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when they celebrated the overall win in 2005.
This victory at the legendary French circuit made Champion Racing the first US team to claim overall victory at the event since Carroll Shelby’s win in 1967 – 38 years earlier. In 2021, Dumas and Champion will sport the No. 38 on Pikes Peak in tribute.