Pikes Peak: Small team with a high goal
START AT THE US CLASSIC The Köstli Racing Team is aiming for a top 10 finish with Roger Schnellmann at the legendary Pikes Peak mountain race in the USA in June 2021 or 2022. They are already entered. Since 1916, the Rocky Mountains in the US state of Colorado have been home to the world's most challenging mountain race. More than 156 curves and an incredible 1439 meters [...]
Since 1916, the Rocky Mountains in the US state of Colorado have been home to the world's most challenging mountain race. More than 156 curves and an incredible 1439 meters of elevation gain make up the race at Pikes Peak.
Race to the clouds
Superstars such as Walter Röhrl, Ari Vatanen, Michèle Mouton and Sébastien Loeb have made history at this hill climb. 19.99 km have to be covered. Not without reason is the race described as "Race to the clouds".
The current track record holder since winning the day in June 2018 is Frenchman Romain Dumas, who lives in Arzier VD, in the ID.R entered by Volkswagen Motorsport in 7'57.148 (145.6 km/h). Eleven-time European champion Simone Faggioli finished second overall in a Norma-Nissan turbo, with Jurassic Fabien Bouduban in the second special sports car from the Italian team a respectable fourth behind the fastest American.
From mountain monster to sports car
Together with the brothers Roman and Sebastian Köstli from the Köstli Racing Team from Wernetshausen in the Zurich Oberland, Roger Schnellmann now wants to start in the world's most famous mountain race next June or - if financing does not yet work out - next year.
The vehicle is a Radical SR3 sports car with a Hayabusa turbo engine. So far - and otherwise still - the 36-year-old from Schwyz drives a Mitsubishi Evo from Group E1 with around 800 hp.
A dream come true
In 2018, Schnellmann thus won the gold medal in the touring car category at the FIA Hill Climb Masters in Gubbio (I). He concluded the 2019 Swiss Hill Climb Championship with the runner-up title and second place overall at the hill climb at Gurnigel.
Roger Schnellmann: "The race at Pikes Peak is the ultimate goal for every mountain racer. For me, it would be the fulfillment of a dream if I could be on the starting line at the end of June. We've drawn up a fixed plan for how we can realize this project. I also already have a commitment that we can train for the Pikes Peak race in the simulator at the Racingfuel Academy in Horgen."
Sponsors wanted
The budget is around 100,000 Swiss francs. The adaptation to a turbo engine alone will cost around 25,000 francs. To realize their ambitious goal, the three racers are still looking for support. In addition to a crowdfunding campaign at ibelieveinyou.ch, Schnellmann & Co. are also hoping for sponsorship money.
Roman Köstli: "Our experience in aviation, vehicle construction and racing enables us to successfully implement such a project. In Roger Schnellmann, we have found an experienced pilot to help us with this ambitious undertaking. We officially entered our name in the entry list for the 99th edition in mid-January. And we are already planning for the edition after next in 2022."
