This is the Ford Supervan 4.2, which came overall second in the recent Broadmoor Pike's Peak International Hill Climb, writes Brian Byrne.
Based on the blue oval's best selling Transit Custom Van, albeit loosely, the vehicle developed by Ford's UK Ford Pro division was for the first time all-electric and was initially shown a year ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
For the Pike's Peak event, reckoned to be the toughest competition of its kind in the world, it got upgraded aerodynamic design features including that massive carbon-fibre spoiler and the front splitter.
The original four electric motors were cut to three for the Pike's Peak event, one powering the front wheels, the other two the rears. This also meant trimming the almost 2,000hp of the original Supervan 4.0 down to about 1,400hp, but given the cornering characteristics of the event, this was deemed to be the most efficient setup.
Driven by French driver Romain Dumas, the vehicle completed the run in 8:47.682, still far behind the record for the event set by Dumas in 2018 of 7:57.148, driving a Volkswagen ID.R special.
The 2023 event was won by Robin Shute in his 2018 Wolf TSC-FS in the Unlimited division of the race (you can take the wild ride with him here), the Ford topping the Pike's Peak Open division.
