Volkswagen ID.R sets new record on Tianmen Mountain
Volkswagen has reached another milestone with the ID.R in China – conquering Tianmen Mountain in 7:38.585 minutes – faster than ever before.
The fully-electric ID.R currently holds the records on Pikes Peak (USA) and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (GB), the electric lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (D), and now the fastest time for an ascent of Tianmen Mountain in China.
The car is the motorsport ambassador for the new, fully-electric range of vehicles from Volkswagen, the ID. family, the first of which – the ID.3 – will have its world premiere on 10 September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
“A new record on a truly spectacular road – Volkswagen and the ID.R have once again shown what the electromobility of the future is already capable of today,” said Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. “Not only has it proven that electric cars like the ID.R can break established records and set new benchmarks, but the ID.R also shows how emotive and exciting the mobility of the future is.”
Demanding record run for man and machine
“Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road” on Tianmen Mountain is a big test. Driver Romain Dumas approached the 10.906-kilometre “China Challenge” to “Heaven’s Gate” – a 131.5-metre natural arch – with courage before completing 99 hairpins, some with a radius of just six metres, followed by short sprints, fast winding sections with speeds of up to 230 km/h, and hard braking manoeuvres in extremely narrow tunnels.
The ID.R is driven by two electric motors with a total system performance of 500 kW (680 PS), riding on tailor-made Bridgestone Potenza tyres. A start and finish line were defined for notarial purposes, especially for the record attempt with the ID.R.