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Robin Shute has extensive experience with victory at Pikes Peak, having claimed the title four times in a vehicle that he and his team have tirelessly refined over the years. However, they have reached the limits of what they can achieve with their heavily modified prototype. To set a new overall record for the mountain, Shute’s team recognizes that a faster car is essential. Consequently, they are in the process of building a new vehicle that won’t be limited to hill climbs but will also aim to smash track records worldwide, drawing design inspiration from the Gran Turismo-exclusive Red Bull X2010.
In a video shared on YouTube by Shute’s team, The Sendy Club, they elaborated on the initial design strategy for this upcoming yet-untitled racing machine. With a background in prominent engineering roles at Tesla, Faraday Future, and Roborace, Shute has spent several years racing a modified Wolf GB08 prototype. This car features a turbocharged Honda K20 engine that generates 600 horsepower. In 2023, Shute successfully broke the nine-minute barrier, securing his fourth overall victory. Nevertheless, the team remains far from achieving their goal of setting the course record, as they struggled to extract additional speed from the Wolf. Thus, they are starting fresh to create “the ultimate Pikes Peak racer,” keeping their budget in mind.
Shute has refrained from revealing specific details about the upcoming vehicle but has mentioned some of the limitations of the Wolf that the new car aims to address. It is expected to feature a tail-heavy, rear-wheel-drive layout rather than the current all-wheel-drive format used by record-holding cars. His analysis indicates that rear-wheel-drive vehicles perform adequately on Pikes Peak’s numerous hairpin turns. The design will include around a 65 percent rear weight bias, enhanced aerodynamics, and a dedicated single-seat configuration rather than the Wolf’s two-seat model. Additionally, a new engine is planned, although Shute has not specified any potential replacements.
The new car’s overall design was hinted at through renders shown in the video, which bear a striking resemblance to Red Bull Racing’s concept car, the X2010. Designed by famous aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, this fan car was intended to be the fastest imaginable track car, outpacing even Formula 1 cars and Le Mans-Daytona Hypercars. Shute acknowledged in the comments that the car “might have been an inspiration,” suggesting that the upcoming racer could closely resemble the fictional Red Bull.
Although fictional now, this inspired design may soon come to life. Enthusiasts interested in record-breaking performances should keep an eye on Shute’s YouTube channel for updates.
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