VW IDR Breaks 20 year old Goodwood Hill Climb Record

[Entai]

The Volkswagen I.D.R electric racecar just broke a 20-year-old record at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb.

Driven by Romain Dumas, the I.D.R made the climb on Friday in just 41.18 seconds, which is a half-second clear of former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld’s hairy 41.6-second run all the way back in 1999 in his McLaren MP4/13.


Heidfelds original record run.

Saw this live when he set the record, will never forget the noise and the fact it looked as though Nick was only ever a millisecond away from crashing during the entire run.



Contrast to Romain Dumas new record run, so calm, so nailed to the road, no drama, and no noise, is this really the future of racing ???

 

[Entai]

I'd like to see what a 2018 or 2019 Mercedes F1 car would do, if it was run up there properly.

Bit heavier than the old McLaren, a bit more power though, more downforce etc.

Yeah pretty sure they would smash the record, but the real test would be if they were allowed to modify the car past existing F1 rules, to make it purpose built to run the hill, with no compromises, that would seriously be something to watch.

Back in 2002 Alan McNish went up in a then current Toyota TF102, and set a time a tenth quicker than Heidfelds, but because the F1 ban on cars setting timed runs outside of F1 weekends was in place, the record was never ratified.

In 2003 Graeme Wight, Jr. In his Gould GR51 set a time of 42.90.
That was a purpose built hill climb car run by the then British Hill climb champion, but could not get within a second of the record., but then the car did not have the technology or resources that a current F1 team could put into a car.


I think the F1 ban on "testing" outside of allowed times is out of date, avd should be scrapped.
Let the teams do events like FOS and I think the face of F1 could be improved and get more people following the teams and races.

 

[Entai]

Has the modified Porsche LMP1 car been up on a timed run? I’d have thought that would beat the F1 time too

In 2018 Porsche were invited to have a go at the record with the 919 hybrid evo, but declined, and only did demo runs instead.

 

[Entai]

New record again today for the IDR
This time completely official and ratified.

39.90.

 

[Entai]

New record, impressive speed from the VW IDR.

However, its like Man City celebrating beating a Sunday league team and claiming some super record on the back of it, and no other Champions league grade team being allowed to compete in same competition. Let an F1/dedicated hillclimb car have a go at a run. To avoid F1 test ban, doesn't need to be this years spec, even the Brawn/Lotus/Red Bull that was running at this weekend should be able to give it a good run for its money I would expect.

They have had pure bred hill climb cars, with the British Hill climb champion driving, didn't get within a second of the then record.

They have had older F1 cars run up on timed attempts, again, never got within seconds of the time.

Thing is its mot just the car, you'd need a top ranked current F1 driver too, and they are forbidden.

Back in 2002 Alan Mcnish went up in the then current Toyota TF102, current car, current driver, broke the then record, by a tenth, but because of the F1 ban it was never counted.

 

[Entai]

It's purely F1 rules on testing and commercial rights that stopped F1 teams from doing timed runs on the hill.

Goodwood and Lord March, would adore to have several current F1 teams there competing for times.

As for if F1 would ever be competitive with the IDR or other top line electric race cars, I doubt it very much, unless F1 rules are seriously changed to allow 4WD and bigger more powerful engines.

Yes the IDR only has the equivalent of around 650 to 700bhp.

But its instant and gets evety single one of those down onto the road far quicker than F1.

Off the line the 4WD IDR is 0 to 100km/h in around 2 seconds, way quicker than any current 2WD F1's could manage.

It's that instant torque and acceleration off the line, and out of the corners, where electric will always and forever outpace internal combustion.

 

[Entai]

Really tempted to go tomorrow...

Guranteed you will not regret it if you do go.

But you will regret it if you had the opportunity and don't go.

This is my 22nd year of going there, and I think its been the best.

Still to go see the rally section tommorow, and probably going back to the arena for a bit too.

 

[Entai]

heikki kovalainen beat the time in FOS 2006 but wasn't timed due to the F1 ban. He did a low 39 in a 2005 F1 car.

There was never any official proof of that time, it is what Renault said he did, no official timing was running on the day, not even to give unofficial times.

 

[Entai]

And? He still did that time and that was 15 years ago. The ID'R time is just pure PR. Only who knows who is aloud to run up the hill. When I go to the FOS it is to watch the rallying and see the displays. The actual timed shootout has been a farce for many years.

And...... without official proof who is to say he really did do that time ?



The shootout is the best bit, it is not and never has been about the absolute fastest, it is about the competition to see who is the fastest within each class.

For instance this year it was far more entertaining and interesting watching the Euro Nascar's go up and see who could be fastest out of those identical cars, rather than watch any of the stuff that was much faster than them. Personally the Fiat S76 was the best car in the shootout every day.

Although it was brilliant to see Petter show Oli how it should be done, with smoothness and skill rather than stupid unnecessary exuberance.



Any one can run up the hill except current F1 teams, they can only do demo runs.

I was speaking to a few others who help organise it all on the Saturday, and said what if some billionaire bought last years Mercedes and members of the team to set it up and run it, under a private owners banner, would that be allowed, and they said yes of course, same as anyone can buy an old F1 and run it up the hill if they wish, as many have done over the years.

The only issue arises, where F1 cars of only a few years old are still owned by the teams, and do not get sold off, especially modern tech ones that are almost impossible for private people to buy and run as they need so many people and laptops etc to run them.