Alpine: Premiere at the Race to the Clouds 🎥
CHALLENGE In June 2023, Alpine will take part for the first time in the legendary hillclimb, the Race to the Clouds, on Pikes Peak in the US state of Colorado. The Alpine is registered for the Time Attack 1 category.
Recently, the French started with the first rides the model A110 Pikes Peak, developed specifically for this event. After tests in the Drôme and Val Thorens to validate the technical solutions, the team is now preparing to leave for the United States, where the challenge begins in June.
Laurent Rossi, CEO Alpine: "Mountain racing has always been a passion of Alpine enthusiasts. Today, our thirst for competition leads us to Pikes Peak, a motorsport event that has captured the imagination for decades. We look forward to being there with our partners at Signatech and Raphaël Astier." The video shows test drives with the pilot.
Air pressure difference influences performance
However, the motorsport competition, which has been held in the Rocky Mountains since 1916, remains one of the most demanding challenges. Known as Race to the Clouds, the competition consists of a 19.93-kilometer course with 156 turns that begins at an altitude of 2865 meters and ends at 4400 meters.
The difference in air pressure significantly affects engine performance throughout the course, while drivers often have to contend with a particularly dusty road, changing weather conditions, varying levels of sunlight, blind corners and the ever-present threat of the abyss.
Revision of kinematics and damping
François Letort, technical director for all customer sports activities at Alpine: "We focused on the lightweight construction of the car to maintain the Alpine DNA. We started with the Alpine A110 GT4 Evo at 1080 kilograms and developed the Alpine A110 Pikes Peak at 950 kilograms. We also revised the kinematics and damping. The goal was to keep engine power constant throughout the climb, and we chose Michelin Pilot Sport H S5C+ with tire sizes of 17 inches in the front and 18 inches in the rear."
Petra Klingler is new brand ambassador
Good news number 2: Alpine Cars Switzerland appoints a new brand ambassador with immediate effect. With Petra Klingler (center gallery), Switzerland's currently most successful and versatile female sports climber is cooperating with the French sports car brand. The 31-year-old looks back on great successes in many different disciplines.
