Suzuki SX4 breaks elusive 10 minute barrier, sets new record for Pikes Peak

‘America’s Mountain’ course record holder Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima behind the wheel of a Suzuki SX4 shattered the elusive 10 minutes barrier at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, when he ascended Pikes Peak in a record 9:51.278.

The ‘10 minute barrier’ had never before been breeched by anyone in the long history of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb.

The 2007 record (10:01.408) set by ‘Monster’ Tajima was the closest anyone had ever got to the 10 minute mark and finally after the four years that followed, the ‘holy grail’ of Pikes Peak has finally been won.

 The spectacular racing event with a roster of 194 racers from around the world was held in the picturesque Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the USA on 26 June 2011.

Tajima’s car was an evolved piece of machinery with a very singular task – to go up Pikes Peak faster than any other.

The ‘2011 Monster Sport SX4 Hill Climb Special’ was born at the Monster Sport Iwata Factory in Shizuoka, Japan, where among others, the Suzuki WRC cars were developed and built.

The car was developed further in the past year in the factory's wind tunnel; it generated higher down force and less drag which helped it stay attached to the mixed surfaces around each of the 156 corners.

The heart of Monster’s vehicle was a one-of-a-kind 3.1L V6 twin-turbo Monster Sports motor.

 With an output of 900 bhp, a close-ratio transmission, and a lightweight 2400-pound body, the car could reach over 125 mph almost instantly.

The final day showed the true performance of the Monster Sport SX4 Hill climb Special with ‘Monster’ Tajima driving faultlessly without any issues and setting a qualifying time over 15 seconds faster than his nearest rival.

Monster’s achievement also reinforced the international image of Suzuki for building reliable cars which can reach peak performances both on and off road.