Pikes Peak - Romain Dumas et le domptage minutieux du Ford SuperVan
Romain, how did you feel after this week of testing with the powerful Ford SuperVan 4.2?
The test went well, just as I had anticipated. It's not easy to come here with this kind of project because we hadn't driven much beforehand, and well, it's not a car, it's a Ford Transit! It's pretty heavy, but so far we haven't had any issues, and it runs better than we thought. (...) The vehicle has less power and more aerodynamic support. The engineers listened to the feedback that I had given them before coming here, because the aerodynamics are crucial at high altitudes.
In terms of positioning and driving management, how do you handle this unique position inside a van?
To start with, it's quite challenging to drive an electric vehicle where there are no gears, meaning there is no feedback on the speed or noise levels. Additionally, the organizers require us to use a loud police siren, which is mandatory for electric cars here. Despite that, our vehicle is actually based on a Ford Transit, which means we sit quite high up. This results in a high center of gravity since the weight is placed high up. Although we attempted to position the batteries as low as possible, naturally, there is still over a ton and 800 kilograms to transport, which is double that of the Alpine!
To put it in perspective, your van looks like a giant compared to some of the competition. Do you find yourself amazed or even intimidated by your vehicle?
I don't know if you can call it a monster, but it's true that during technical inspections, when compared to the Alpine...I feel like I can fit two of them in mine! It's definitely impressive, but when driving, the weight and inertia penalize us. We have very small 18-inch tires because there are no bigger ones available. They have the same diameter as the Alpine. There have never been slicks made for a car this heavy and that goes this fast, so the tires are put to the test.
Will they make it through the 20 kilometers of uphill climb?
The challenge with Pikes Peak lies precisely in this aspect. It requires careful consideration of factors such as tire pressure, heating, and more.
During the Friday morning trials, there was a lot of wind in the middle section. Considering its size, is the car prone to being affected by the wind and other disturbances?
No, and even much less than the small prototypes. We have support and the car is so heavy and imposing that it doesn't move.
How does this vehicle stack up against the other cars you've driven here at Pikes Peak?
This is something totally different from anything I've ever done. The other cars were more similar to what I usually drive, in general. But it's still surprising, because there are corners where, even at low speeds, it remains fast. The mechanical grip is impressive: in a very slow turn, the car stays fast despite its weight. Where we struggle a bit is in corners at 120, 130 km/h.
Do you have a specific time in mind for your attempt on Sunday?
No, nothing is set in stone. So far, we have achieved lap times we never thought were possible. However, it's important to remember that it's an electric car and we have to complete three sectors with the same battery charge. This requires more careful management of consumption, battery usage and regeneration compared to a gas-powered engine. Pushing an electric vehicle to its limits over a longer distance is much more complex, but I am optimistic about our chances.
Interview conducted by Dorian Grangier, at Pikes Peak.
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