After successfully competing in the Andros Trophy ice-racing championship with F1 star Alain Prost behind the wheel, the guys at Renault Sport Technologies want the Dacia Duster to perform in a whole different league. In particular, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb which will be held on June 26 this year.
Even though this will be the brand's first-ever entry at the world-famous Colorado-based event, Dacia wants to deliver. In order to be competitive, Renault Sport Technologies will prepare a one-off 850 horsepower version of the car according to the technical regulations for Pikes Peak. The car will be driven by French ice-racing star and three-time winner of the Andros Trophy, Jean-Philippe Dayraut. Dacia will reveal further details, including technical specs of the car, in a few weeks time.
The event is run each year on a 12.42 mile (20 km) course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet (2,862 m) and finishes at the 14,110 foot (4,301 m) top of America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak. The race is particularly tricky since rarefied air slows reflexes, saps muscle strength and also steals 30% of engine power at the summit. In addition to that, road surface alternates asphalt with gravel, making it a tough nut to crack for even the most experienced racing drivers.
By Dan Mihalascu
