Range Rover Sport is now fastest production SUV to climb Pikes Peak

By Nick Jaynes June 7, 2013

Range Rover Sport Pikes Peak — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yesterday at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Land Rover set a new record with its all-new Range Rover Sport model, scaling the 12.42-mile hill in 12:35.1 minutes. This makes the Range Rover Sport the fastest production SUV to ever make the Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

The man behind the wheel was none other than American competition and stunt driver Paul Dallenbach, who has won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb three times.

“There’s no margin for error at Pikes Pike – you only need to misjudge one of those 156 turns and you’re into the trees or over the edge of the mountain,” Dallenbach said in a prepared statement. “To take on this place the way I did today, you need complete confidence in your vehicle, and the Range Rover Sport sure gave me that – it’s fast, responsive and agile. I was able to place the car exactly where I wanted it on the road to keep to the optimum high-speed lines through corners. This is a hugely capable vehicle and I’m proud to have been part of demonstrating that by setting a new Pikes Peak record.”

All Land Rover did add a roll cage and harness seatbelt in order to meet safety requirements. Beyond that, however the Range Rover Sport remained fully stock, including the 510 horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V8.

Do we recommend that you and your friends try to replicate such a run in your Range Rover Sport? No. But you can rest easy though knowing that your British performance luxury 4×4 is capable of such a feat.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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