Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima has set a new Pikes Peak record.
Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima, President of Suzuki Sport, has won the 2007 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a world-beating time of 10 minutes 1 second.
His time will be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest ever run, beating the previous best set
by New Zealander Rod Millen thirteen years ago.
Tajima also won the final Race to the Sky at Easter near Queenstown in the same car.
It was his eighth victory the event that has also been won by late Kiwi rally legend Possum Bourne.
Monster was driving the Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special - a machine which is very loosely based on the Suzuki Vitara, or Escudo.
It's got a twin turbocharged 3.6 litre V6 which pumps out a massive 993bhp and 738lb ft torque, and the aerodynamics are said to generate up to 35 per cent more downforce than previous Pikes Peak competition cars. We're not surprised - just look at that rear wing.
Ever-competitive Monster, 57, has already set a new target for next year, stating that he intends to get under the 10 minute mark.
- REUTERS / NZ HERALD STAFF
