The Ford Pro SuperVan Electric has a new date booked: the Pikes Peak Hill Climb 2023

It was in 1916 that a legendary race was born that is still held to this day: the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Over the years, this event has seen numerous vehicles and prototypes tackle its 1,440 metres of elevation gain with a finish line sitting at 4,302 metres above sea level, a climb that has tested even the most powerful engines, with 156 corners that have pushed drivers to the limit and given us iconic images for history.

Many brands have wanted to take on Pikes Peak, among them Ford, which was also present at the inaugural event with, believe it or not… a Ford Model T. Imagine the feat it must have been at that time to complete this race in that car, even though it took 28 minutes and three seconds. But times have changed, technology has changed and even the mountain has changed, with a road that has been fully paved for a few years now.

Once again, Ford will be present at a new edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which will take place at the end of next June, this time with the SuperVan Electric. This electric beast is based on the E-Transit Custom, although in reality it has very little in common with it. It was presented, as you may remember, last summer at the Goodwood Festival before being showcased on tarmac stages of the WRC, among other events.

To give a little more background on the Ford Pro SuperVan Electric: mechanically, it uses four electric motors, two on each axle, capable of a combined output of 2,000 CV and a massive torque of 1,800 Nm sent to all four wheels. Alongside the motors is a 50 kWh battery with liquid cooling, a battery developed by STARD Motorsport following more than five years of collaboration with Ford, which also led to the creation of the Fiesta ERX, the first electric rallycross car to hold FIA certification.

Behind the wheel of the Ford Pro SuperVan Electric will be French driver Romain Dumas, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who has already made eight appearances at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb since his debut in 2012. He also set a new electric vehicle record in 2018 driving the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, bringing the time down by almost a minute. Now he has a new opportunity to etch his name into the mountain’s history again, and the less than two seconds it takes to accelerate to 100 km/h and the top speed of 320 km/h of the Ford Pro SuperVan Electric should be a great help.