Romain Dumas actively preparing for Pikes Peak

90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Romain: Dumas actively preparing for Pikes Peak!

Before turning his attention to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the coming days, including the Test Day on June 3 ahead of the twice around the clock classic on June 16-17, Romain Dumas fine-tuned his preparation for Pikes Peak. The French driver will take part in the most famous hillclimb event in the world on July 8. On Sunday, he completed a test at Pôle Mécanique d’Alès with the latest evolution of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. A positive final rehearsal…

After a shakedown during the Spark Motor Festival at the end of April, Romain Dumas once again got behind the wheel of the machine that will take him to 4,301 metres and the top of Pikes Peak. Since last month, the Porsche 911 GT3 R has unmistakably evolved: shocks, gearbox, motor, and of course aerodynamics…The team has actively worked to adapt the car to such an atypical race. It was at Pôle Mécanique d’Alès, in public, that Romain put these evolutions to the test. “The tests went perfectly well,” he said. “We were able to dial in base settings by simulating the speeds and distance of Pikes Peak. The balance of the car suits me and the new additions are positive, notably in terms of the aerodynamics. Pikes Peak will be a big challenge with a certain number of discoveries. We’re trying to reduce the amount of unknowns and arrive in Colorado as prepared as possible."

Romain Dumas and his team also took advantage of this test to evaluate different tyre compounds. "We tested several solutions and we’ve gained precious information,"he explained of the French tyre manufacturer’s partnership. “It’s an opportunity that we seized without hesitation.” declared Serge Grisin, Motorsport Director at MICHELIN.

“Providing tyres to this Porsche 911 GT3 R, in the Pikes Peak Open class, allows MICHELIN to remain alongside Romain Dumas during this legendary race,” continues Serge Grisin. “On the technical side, MICHELIN will also profit from its participation in the PPIHC 2012. Pikes Peak is a fairly singular event just by its 20km run up the mountain, and for the first time entirely asphalt this year. The pressures the tyres will be submitted to during the 156 successive corners and steep gradient – 1,440 metres in altitude change – will allow MICHELIN to gather precious information for its future lines.”

Romain Dumas' specially prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R

Photo by: RomainDumas.com

MICHELIN will provide tyres to Romain Dumas that are characterised by a mixture of compounds conceived to deal with a rapid elevation in temperature. The treads on the ‘dry’ tyres, designed specifically for the PPIHC 2012, will be hand sculpted on site by MICHELIN technicians.

During this testing session, the Porsche 911 GT3 R was also wearing its final colours. Along with Spark and AC Sport, new partners have come onboard: HARIBO, KENNOL, RICHARD MILLE and MICHELIN. The Porsche 911 GT3 R, which will carry the No. 47 at Pikes Peak, is now set to travel and will head this Wednesday to the United States. After technical verifications on July 3, the car will attack the famous mountain for the first time during free practice on the Fourth of July.