Last week we covered the latest beast to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Ford’s Lightning F150 EV pick-up. And it is an awesome piece of kit!
Today though we bring you news of something very, very different that is targeting success at the event in 2025, a tribute to a car that saw success on track, and on the special stages – The Lancia Beta Montecarlo.
The Montecarlo road car saw development in period to successful rally (the 1983 World Rally Championship Manufacturer’s Championship-winning 037) and race (The three times world title-winning Group 5 Beta Montecarlo Turbo).
Kimera are an Italian outfit that have been following the same route as Lancia themselves did to develop their period races – built up on the core chassis of a roadgoing Beta Montecarlo with bespoke sublimes front and rear.
They have been building road going and trackable ‘restomods’ on that basis for several years to rave reviews from the automotive press including their latest Evo38 model with a four-wheel-drive drivetrain.
Now though they are looking to add contemporary motorsport provenance to a design whose last victories came over 40 years ago.
That’s set to be achieved with big power, advanced aero and chassis tech, all contained in a stunning Montecarlo-esque wrapper.
Kimera’s K39 is their third evolution on the theme with a monocoque carbon fibre chassis and well north of 500 bhp with the final figure to be defined by that which Kimera believe to be necessary for success on the biggest hill climb in the world!
