Updated for second attempt

Mr. Satoshi Yagi will be challenging Pikes Peak in a 1990 Toyota Starlet. He enjoyed rallying in his youth, and in recent years he has been challenging hill climbs in Japan, especially in the BRIG Hill Climb Series, in his Toyota Starlet. He will be challenging Pikes Peak for the second time in 2024.

In 2023, in conjunction with the Pikes Peak challenge, the vehicle was fitted with a safety tank and incorporated a thick Pikes Peak-spec roll cage. The result of that first attempt was 54th overall (13th in class) in 12:33.959.

Unfortunately, the engine used in 2023 blew up, so this time he had to replace it with a hastily built engine. The turbine was tuned based on the one for the R34 Skyline GT-R. The setup was done by Mr. Dandy Tanaka of FNATZ, who has experience in setting the fastest speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

The engine is capable of producing 220 hp, which is enough to cause wheelspin if the accelerator is opened roughly, but the engine can keep up in time, so it has been suppressed considerably. To accommodate the turbine, the placement of the radiator was revised.

The suspension was a one-off by BILS. After measurements were taken on the actual vehicle, the front suspension was inverted and the rear was a separate tank type. Mr. Kanazawa of BILS commented,

“The suspension is tuned to be as smooth as possible so that it can be used on the race circuit.”

The alignment and spring rates were also revised to accommodate the suspension. The ADVAN A050 tires were chosen, which the driver is accustomed to using daily.

There are no major changes to the exterior. The shape of the front canards will be revised to prevent air from hitting the front tires directly.

Mr. Yagi describes the goals for his second attempt as follows.

“Last year, I broke my engine and turbine and was only able to finish the race, so this year I want to focus on time.”

The official schedule for the 102nd edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb includes open vehicle inspections on Monday, June 17, 2024, four days of practice and qualifying sessions beginning on Tuesday, June 18, and a fan fest on the evening of Friday, June 21. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Final will be held on Sunday, June 23.

translated by DeepL