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Romain Magnifique

Romain Dumas at Pike's Peak. [Photo from Romain Dumas]

By Jack Webster & Eddie LePine

Most people, after a grueling week or so at Le Mans, and then winning the race, might take a day or two off to relax and let the accolades of that victory pour in. They might take a moment or two to savor the victory and soak it all in.

Not Romain Dumas. He left Le Mans and boarded a plane for Colorado to compete in the Race to the Clouds at Pike’s Peak.

Is there anything Romain Dumas cannot do? One week after winning a very dramatic and eventful 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche, Dumas won the 100th running of the “Race to the Clouds” at Pike’s Peak in Colorado.

Racing in the unlimited class, Dumas set a time of 8:51.445, which secured the victory for him by over 6 seconds. It was the second time that Dumas has been the fastest at Pike’s Peak, the last time being in 2014.

This year’s run was not without drama, just as Le Mans was a week ago. An engine problem prevented Dumas from making a practice run at the very difficult top section of the hill climb, but he was not deterred and went out Sunday and won after setting the fastest time in qualifying. In winning Pike’s Peak, Romain Dumas becomes the first driver in history to win Le Mans and Pike’s Peak in the same year.

Romain Dumas is racing’s renaissance man. He not only races full time for Porsche in their high pressure LMP1 program in the FIA-WEC series, he races in rallies whenever he can get away. He raced in and completed the grueling Dakar Rally this year, and last year finished 2nd in class at the Monte Carlo Rally.

Oh, and by the way, Dumas has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, and has also won the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, among many other races and championships.

Who knows what might be next for this French champion? Perhaps a World Championship in the FIA-WEC series? We wouldn’t bet against him. Dumas is fast, determined and one of the most versatile drivers on the planet.

So, whether the clock says 24 hours or 8:51.445, we know one thing. Romain Dumas is a winner.

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