But they also came to watch more than 200 production, tuned and racing models including recent Formula 1 cars, race against the clock in the famous 1.6 mile hill-climb. However, much to everybody’s surprise, the winner was not an F1 car but a tuned, 800+ horsepower Toyota Celica that recorded a time of just 48.07 seconds.
It was driven and built by former British rally champion, Jonny Milner, who had also tried, but lost, in previous years. So he returned with an extra 100 ponies packed under the hood of the Celica and this time, he won.
Of course, this is not your run-of-the-mill Celica. Based on the 6th generation of Toyota’s coupe, it features a Corolla WRC four cylinder engine fitted with a Garret turbocharger, a Rotrex supercharger and a nitrous oxide injection system. It also sports Corolla WRC suspension and has been lightened to just 1,050 kg (2,315 lbs) while, thanks to a flat floor and a diffuser, generates a degree of ground effect.
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