The Alpine A110 takes on Pikes Peak - unveiling of the new contender

 The yearly mountain ascent competition has just been presented with Alpine's entry.

Alpine has unveiled a special edition of the A110, specifically designed to participate in one of the toughest motorsport competitions in the world. The striking-looking coupe is set to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States on 25 June. However, calling it a "hill" climb is an understatement considering that the course involves a grueling 12.42-mile ascent up the Pikes Peak mountain in Colorado, with 156 turns, culminating in a summit finish line at an elevation of 14,115 feet above sea level.

The Alpine A110 Pikes Peak has already undergone its first shakedown in France on 25/26 April and will be competing in the Time Attack 1 category, which allows for various aerodynamic enhancements to help the cars grip the road, especially important for an event where maximum downforce is crucial. The shakedown was conducted by Raphaël Astier, the 2022 FIA R-GT Cup champion who will also be driving the car in the main event. Astier currently holds the Time Attack 1 class record up Pikes Peak, having set a time of nine minutes, 23.721 seconds in a turbocharged Porsche 993 GT3 Cup car in 2019. The overall record is held by Roman Dumas, who raced an all-electric VW I.D. R up the course in 7:57.148.

One of the most notable features of the Alpine A110 Pikes Peak is the Le Mans Prototype-style shark fin that extends from the rear window and splits a massive two-piece rear wing. The car also has a distinctive front splitter, low side skirts, a deep rear diffuser, and flat wheel covers, all contributing to the car's aerodynamics. The vehicle is adorned with the French colors of red, white, and blue, as well as 50 stars on the roof in tribute to the American event.

To counter the effects of the high altitude at the summit, a ram-air induction scoop is installed on the roof to supply as much air as possible to the mid-mounted engine. To compensate for the expected loss in output at high altitude, the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been increased from the standard 296bhp to an impressive 500bhp. The Alpine A110 Pikes Peak weighs only 950kg, down from its road-going version's already light 1,082kg.

Alpine's development work for the Pikes Peak car was carried out in conjunction with the Signatech team, which has a history of success with Alpine, having won two LMP2 titles in the World Endurance Championship and developing another motorsport-spec A110 for the GT4 category.