Falken Driver "Monster" Tajima prepares for Pikes Peak

motorsports news



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

FALKEN DRIVER “MONSTER” TAJIMA TAKES ON PIKES PEAK

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (July 16, 2009) – Current Pikes Peak Overall record
holder Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima returns to the famed international hill
climb in 2009, driving a specially designed Monster Sport SX4 Hillclimb
Special, built in conjunction with Suzuki Sport, and shod with Falken ZIEX
S/T Z04 Pikes Peak Special.

 

The 87th running of Pikes Peak will see the veteran driver pitted against
three “rookies” in the Unlimited division as all four will try to crack the
Peak’s elusive under 10-minute barrier. Rookies only in their debut in the
“race to the clouds,” rally legend Marcus Gröholm, holder of 30 World Rally
Championship victories and two titles, and four-time Swedish Rally Champion
Andreas Eriksson, both from the Olsberg Motor Sport Evolution team of
Sweden, will each field a Ford Rallycross Fiesta.  The fourth combatant is
British Rallycross Champion Mark Rennison, who brings his famous 1999 Ford
RS 200 to the Peak.

 

Japanese superstar “Monster” Tajima, who set the current Pikes Peak record
of 10:01.41 in 2007, will return with his new 885-hp machine this year.  (By
comparison, the winning time for the first event in 1916 was 20:55.40.)

 

Tajima’s 3.6-liter twin turbo Suzuki has gone through major changes for a
new record-breaking attempt, but is loosely based on previous models that
“Monster” has raced up the mountain.  This year’s model has seen technical
improvements which during pre-event testing in Japan have shown that Tajima
has the potential to eclipse the 10-second record.  The Suzuki Sport will
run on Falken ZIEX S/T Z04 all-season performance tires, size 285/60R18.
The tires are known for having one of the deepest tread designs in the
SUV/Sport Truck category.  

 

“The ZIEX S/T Z04 features a solid center rib that offers improved lateral
handling and great roadway stability in challenging weather conditions,”
said Andrew Hoit, Falken Director of Marketing.  “The tires ‘Monster’ is
using are what we call our ‘Pikes Peak Special,’ so we’re giving him product
that will best handle the road surfaces that can quickly change based on the
weather Pikes Peak is famous for.”

 

Tajima is no stranger to driving on dirt.  In the All Japan Dirt Trial
(rally sprint) Championship, he has earned nine series win.  His first visit
to Pikes Peak was in 1988, and in 1995, he was the first Japanese competitor
to achieve the overall win.  “Monster” has competed throughout the Asia
Pacific Rally circuit, scoring multiple wins.  “The 2009 Monster Suzuki
Sport SX4 Hillclimb special is fantastic,” Tajima said.  “After testing it,
I know that it is the fastest car I have driven and if all is good with the
course, I am totally confident of breaking the record.”

 

Falken Tire Corporation, based in Fontana, California, was introduced to the
North American market in 1985.  Falken focuses on UHP (Ultra High
Performance) products and primarily utilizes pro drifting and American
LeMans race programs to further develop, improve and market passenger
vehicle products for worldwide distribution.  For more information, visit
Falken Tire’s new website at www.falkentire.com <http://www.falkentire.com/>
.

 

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, scheduled for Sunday July 19, 2009,
is the second oldest motor sports race in America (second only to the
Indianapolis 500) and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs. First
competed in 1916, this year marks the 87th running of the "Race to the
Clouds."

 

The race is run on a 12.42-mile course with 156 hairpin turns that begins at
9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110-foot summit of “America's Mountain.”
As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air has been known to slow
reflexes and diminish muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 40%
of their power at the summit. Competitors and vehicles must be in top shape
simply to finish.  This year, the race has 11 classes and features a variety
of automotive, semi-truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro
truck and motorcycle classes with a field of nearly 200 competitors.

 

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Falken Media Contacts:


Nick Fousekis
James Yim

nfousekis@falkentire.com
jyim@falkentire.com