2020 is the year of the race to reach the clouds.
Pikes Peak, a Colorado Rocky Mountains area, is a place that has a lot to offer people from all walks. While some may view it as a paradise for hiking, others see it as a one-mile raceway. However, any petrolhead will tell you that Pikes Peak is home to one the most difficult hill climbs in the country. Acura won the race with the NSX, the fastest hybrid performance in the race.
James Robinson, chief Acura engineer, was in the driver’s seat. He is a 10-time Pikes Peak veteran, with podium finishes at the Exhibition, Open and Time Attack 1 classes. He was competing in the TA1 category and came up against stiff competition from a tribute car driven Jeff Zwart, and GT2 RS Clubsport, which was piloted along by David Donner.
The NSX time attack specialty finished third in the class, with Zwart and Donner ahead. The top three cars were clearly the best, with Acura almost one minute ahead of the next-best.
Despite the results, it is clear that the NSX rival was not a stock vehicle purchased from a dealer and driven to Pikes Peak. The hill climb special features a huge rear wing, an aggro front splitter and 200 pounds of weight loss. It also has HRE wheels that are shod in sticky Pirelli rubber. In comparison to the 573 standard, the engine now produces 625 horsepower (466kilowatts).
Acura Motorsports has been a key part of the brand’s success since its inception in 1986. The partnership has been a part of numerous championships in American sports car racing, with both GT3 and prototype challengers.
We’d bet that Acura will return to the top spot next year if their track record is any indication. The event is still one of America’s longest-running motorsports events.