Formula 1 and IndyCar veteran, Justin Wilson, will pilot a Honda-powered LMP2 (ARX-04b) race car up Pikes Peak, competing in the Unlimited class. Justin Wilson is a friend of The Fast Lane Car, driving many of our vehicles and appearing in many of our videos. Recently, Justin Wilson qualified an impressive sixth for the 2015 Indy 500. He also has 171 combined starts in Indy Car and Champ Car competition, garnering seven wins and eight poles.
Wilson will pilot the Honda-powered HPD ARX-04b LMP2 coupe that competed at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The LMP2 race car is powered by a Honda-sourced, production-based 3.5-liter V6 that is twin-turbocharged. Although no performance numbers are available, LMP2 race cars typically start at 500 horsepower. Pikes Peak Unlimited class vehicles have been said to produce far more than that.
The current record, that was set by Sebastien Loeb in 2013, is 8:13.878. That’s 156 turns, 12.42-miles and all the way up to 14,110 feet.
“This is an exploratory effort, to learn as much as we can in advance of a possible future assault on the outright record [8:13.878, set by Sebastien Loeb in 2013]. We want to see how well our ARX-04b chassis adapts to the rigors of the Climb, and the high-altitude demands placed on our production-based V6 engine,” said Art St. Cyr, President of Honda Performance Development. “The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has always been an interesting project for many Honda divisions. The diversity of classes and very open nature of the rulebook continues to be very appealing to Honda and the passions of its associates.”
“We’re looking forward to this. We hope to have a lot of fun, and we’re certainly not holding back with Justin Wilson behind the wheel. We think the fans will enjoy the show, as well.”
The Honda-powered LMP2 (ARX-04b) was developed through a joint effort between HPD and Wirth Research. The Honda-powered HPD ARX-04b LMP2 Coupe will feature energy-efficient technologies with low drag and high fuel efficiency. It will also feature “quick-change” front and rear bodywork.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun driving the Honda ARX-04b up the hill and giving it everything I’ve got,” Wilson said. “This is my first time competing at Pikes Peak and I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’ve run with Honda at the Indy GP and the ‘500′ this year, and also have run Formula E and at the 12 Hours of Sebring. But this will be every bit as difficult as any of them. I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with everyone at Honda.”
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on June 28. The TFLcar team will be covering the entire event and we will feature special coverage of Justin Wilson and the Honda-powered LMP2 race car. Stay tuned for more!
Watch as our amigo Justin Wilson devours the IMI Motorsports track with the Volkswagen Golf R!
