Dumas completes Volkswagen's first Pikes Peak run with electric car

Volkswagen revealed its challenger for the 2018 event in April before it was taken for a shakedown, but Dumas' run marked the car's first official test.

"The I.D. R Pikes Peak is the best car that I have ever driven up this mountain," said Dumas, who won the event in 2014, '16 and '17 in a Norma prototype.

"The acceleration and cornering speed are really impressive and, on top of that, the car is very convenient; thanks to the electric drive, I don't need to change gears and can focus on the line instead."

Testing for the June 24 event is limited to just three hours per day because the Pikes Peak course runs on a public road.

But Volkswagen said it made the most of its first test, with motorsport director Sven Smeets revealing the manufacturer is on target to beat the record for electric cars.

"The news from Colorado is very positive," said Smeets. "We are on schedule with the preparations for the I.D. R Pikes Peak and can now focus on fine-tuning.

"It is the result of a very strong team performance, initially here in Germany and now by our team on site in the USA.

"If we continue to work with focus and motivation, we are in with a good chance of setting a new record time for e-cars."

Volkswagen Motorsport will now remain in America to tune the car in time for the race.

Two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Dumas added: "It goes without saying that there is always room for improvements.

"In the remaining test drives, we will continue to optimise the tuning.

"I know the track at Pikes Peak like the back of my hand, but it is the first time I will be driving a racing car with electric drive.

"I am learning with every metre I drive in the cockpit of the I.D. R Pikes Peak. You only get one shot.

"If even only the slightest thing goes wrong, a new e-record is highly unlikely."

The Pikes Peak hillclimb rises from 4720 to 14,110 feet through 156 corners and 12.42 miles.

Rhys Millen holds the 8m51.118s e-record Dumas and Volkswagen are targeting, while Nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb holds the outright fastest time on the hillclimb - an 8m13.878s set in a Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak in 2013.