COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The main focus of Sunday’s 89th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb isn’t the return of Nobuhiro Tajima and the Unlimited Class of the event.
It is on the course’s remaining gravel surface.
“This is all about the gravel,” said Tajima, the five-time defending champion. “I want to win this race the last time there will be gravel on the course.”
Nearly all the 12.42 miles up Pikes Peak is paved. A gravel surface of less than three miles remains.
Pavement replaced gravel from Devil’s Playground to Boulder Park for this year’s race. Race director Phil Layton said they hope the course would be completely paved for 2012.
Jean Philippe Dayraut, a top challenger to Tajima, said the famed gravel surface was known throughout Europe. Dayraut, a first-time participant, traveled from Montrabe, France, to see it for himself and drive on the gravel with his VIP Challenge Dacia Duster.
“It’s the last year of the gravel,” Dayraut said. “I wanted to see the gravel and to drive this road with a performance car with a big motor.”
Another challenger, Rhys Millen, is more concerned about the aura of Tajima.
“He has a lot of passion and he has a solid platform,” Millen said of the man known as the Monster. “I have not known him to be a DNF (did not finish) in many years, which makes him the No. 1 competitor here.”
And then there’s the lure of the chance to break the 10-minute barrier. Millen thinks it could happen in his 19th time at Pikes Peak.
“The weather will determine it,” Millen said. “I would probably confidently say you’re going to see two or three cars go sub 10. If the bottom holds up.”
Tajima is confident he can break the 10-minute barrier. Tajima bested Rod Millen’s 13-year-old course record on July 21, 2007, with a time of 10:01.41. He finished in 10:11.490 in 2010.
