While the 2013 version of the annual "Race to the Clouds" won’t take place until the end of the month, Land Rover has just put its name in the official record books courtesy of a 2014 Ranger Rover Sport HSE that set a new time mark for a production-standard Sport Utility Vehicle, while also shattering the record for any kind of production-standard vehicle. Driven by Pikes Peak ace, Paul Dallanbach, who already has six category and three overall wins in the event, the record-setting Range Rover Sport was bone stock save for a bolt-in roll cage and competition-style seat harnesses.
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Powered by a 510-horsepower supercharged V8, the Range Rover Sport HSE completed the serpentine 12.42-mile course with its 156 corners and 4,720 feet of elevation changes in 12:35.61, averaging 59.17 mph. Dallenbach’s performance in the Range Rover Sport HSE was officially timed and verified by the independent PPIHC (Pikes Peak International Hill Climb) organizers, who sanction the annual competition at the Colorado venue.
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According to Land Rover, this is only the first in what will be several global driving challenges it plans during the coming year. The goal is to show the Range Rover Sport HSE’s exceptional capabilities when subjected to "a series of the most punishing drives to be found on earth."
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