MOTORSPORT
Damien Smith
RACING LINES
Brit Shute dug deep to win for a fourth time at Pikes Peak
LARRY CHEN PHOTO / FORD PERFORMANCE
Robin Shute remains king of the mountain. The Brit took his fourth Pikes Peak Hillclimb win in five years recently, battling adversity to once again conquer the 12.42-mile, 156-turn ascent in Colorado. He remains the only Brit to win the ‘Race to the Clouds’ in the 101 editions run since 1916.
Shute had planned an assault in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 this year, but when a budget shortfall scuppered that plan, he fell back on his trusty Ultimate-class 2018 Wolf TSC-FS. A 20% bump in downforce from a new aero package and more power for its Honda engine from a bigger BorgWarner turbo boosted his chase not only for victory but also the records he craves the most.