Volkswagen’s ID.R electric-powered race car climbed the Goodwood Hill faster than any vehicle, including Formula 1 cars, to break the 20-year-old record by nearly 2 seconds on this past weekend. With Romain Dumas in the driver’s seat, the car completed the 1.86-kilometer spring in 39.90 seconds.
The previous standard for the event at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld in a McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13.
Little more than a year ago, the VW broke the all-time record for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, then set the electric vehicle record at Goodwood, and recently set a record for electric cars at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
“In setting the new all-time record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the ID.R has once again shown that Volkswagen’s electric powertrain can outperform even the most powerful conventional powertrains,” Volkswagen motorsport director Sven Smeets said after the car also won the “Sunday Shootout” at Goodwood.
“Romain Dumas exploited the full potential of the ID.R on this short but tricky track,” he added.
“The short hillclimb is a very special challenge,” Dumas said. “Because the track is so short, I could not afford to make even the slightest mistake, and every aspect of the fine-tuning of the ID.R had to be perfect. That was particularly challenging, as we were not able to test on the route beforehand.”
To prepare for the Goodwood record attempt, the ID.R was lightened, which entailed among other changes using a smaller battery. The car also was equipped with specially designed Bridgestone tires, VW noted.
I have to admit, I don’t care and I am less interested in buying a VW or electric car. Breaking an old record that hasn’t been attempted to be broken with a bizillion dollar car isn’t a challenge. Porsche could dust of a car from there museum and best that time I’m sure.
Like Pike’s Peak, If Porsche or anyone else could beat Dumas and VW they already would have.