Dayraut will challenge mountain in Hill Climb

Jean-Philippe Dayraut has mastered France. He’s a three-time “Champion de France,” and the reigning Andros champion. People know him in the western side of Europe.

It’s time for Dayraut to take on a new challenge, to go where he’s never gone before and race 12.42 miles to the 14,115-foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak, hoping to break the 10-minute barrier, a feat no one has accomplished.

Dayraut will be competing in the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26.

“I find that this race is very fascinating and extreme,” Dayraut said. “I like running as much on the tar as on the ground, furthermore it is the only race where I can pilot a car so powerful and successful in hill climb.”

Dayraut has always been fascinated by the Pikes Peak race, enjoying the human challenge and need for a driver to adapt to the different road conditions.

Race director Phil Layton said Dayraut is one of many past European challengers who have grown up hearing about the race, an event that’s internationally known.

“It’s the mountain that everybody in their life wants to conquer,” Layton said. “The mountain is a magnet, it draws people here.”

Racing in the Unlimited Division, Dayraut will challenge five-time champion Nobuhiro Tajima of Japan and veterans Rhys Millen and Paul Dallenbach, drivers he has never faced before.

“I saw their race and I look forward to meeting them so that they give me advice and so that I confront with them, but they have more of experience than I have,” Dayraut said.

Dayraut knows he has a lack of experience on Pikes Peak, but hopes to learn from others, win the race and break the record.

Layton thinks breaking the 10-minute record will be a challenge and it depends on what the mountain thinks.

“It’s really the mountain that decides what happens,” Layton said. “The mountain has a spirit of its own and it throws things at you.”

Dayraut believes his car, the Dacia Duster, will be an advantage. It’s a highly modified Romanian vehicle and is “the most powerful vehicle which I drove in my career,” he said.

With a weight of 900kg, all-wheel drive, a composite body and 850 horsepower; the car is only allowed to be run at the Pikes Peak course.

Dayraut is not sure how well he’ll do during his first climb on America’s Mountain or what exactly to expect but there’s one thing Dayraut is certain of: he’ll be back.

“I wish to return next year in 2012 and if possible with more of experience and with a car which will benefit from the experience of this year,” Dayraut said.