Volkswagen Sets First Record on Tianmen Mountain with Volkswagen ID.R

An extraordinary drive on the limit, with spectacular images and the first record on Tianmen Mountain: Volkswagen has achieved a major milestone with the Volkswagen ID.R in China--one that literally helps drive electromobility to new highs. Romain Dumas completed the 99 tight corners on the Tianmen Mountain road in seven minutes, 38.585 seconds--faster than ever before.

The ID.R currently holds the records on Pikes Peak and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the electric lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, 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 September 10 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 true test. Dumas approached the 10.906-kilometer 'China Challenge' to 'Heaven’s Gate' – a 131.5-meter natural arch--with respect and courage. Ninety-nine hairpins, some with a radius of just six meters, followed by short sprints, fast winding sections with speeds of up to 230 kph, and hard braking maneuvers in extremely narrow tunnels--Dumas brilliantly overcame these extreme challenges for any driver, setting a new official record in the process. The ID.R is driven by two electric motors with a total system performance of 500 kW (671 hp), riding on tailor-made Bridgestone Potenza tires. A start and finish line were defined for notarial purposes, especially for the record attempt with the ID.R. "I will certainly remember this record run on Tianmen Mountain for ever as my most spectacular outing," said Dumas after the race. "The little information and testing we had beforehand made it a huge challenge. The road is incredibly narrow and winding, but the drive was unbelievable fun with the electric power of the ID.R. The huge torque was a big advantage on the short straights, while the aerodynamics provided additional traction in the fast sections."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHU2j7rZess