King of the Hill

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

 
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an event unlike any other, one in which the skill and resolve of the driver and the technical expertise of the crew are tested against the clock and the elements.  Last year, Toyota reclaimed “King of the Hill” status when Rod Millen drove his all-drive Celica Turbo to its second overall Pikes Peak victory in three attempts.  Powered by a 2.1-liter turbocharged engine-a modified version of the power plant that carried Juan Manual Fangio II to back-to-back IMSA GTP championships-Millen’s Celica bettered the all-time Pike Peaks record by nearly 40 seconds to take the victory on its debut in 1994, and poor weather conditions were the only reason he did not top that mark in 1995.

 

For this year’s 75th anniversary Pikes Peak run, Millen fitted his monster Pennzoil Celica with a refined suspension and aerodynamics package, and the New Zelander headed for the mountains intent on shattering the magic 10 – minute mark for the 2.42-mile climb to the top of the 14,110ft. mountain.