EV West just posted these videos of their 700 hp E36 M3 race car qualifying and practicing for this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). The course is split into three sections to allow the drivers to pre-run the course before competition day. Qualifying is done based on their time for the lower section. It turns out the car was making too much power which was causing some powerslides on corner exit. The team derated the controller to help with traction.

Part 1: Qualifying the on the lower section. The motor controller cut out for 30 seconds right off the bat, but then it fires up again without any problems. The alarm is required for electric cars so that the people out on course can hear the car coming.

Part 2: The team puts the camera in a little bit better place for the middle section. It’s kind of interesting watching Boris Said shift the two speed Powerglide between the consecutive hairpins.

Part 3: This is the top section of the PPIHC. Combustion engine cars are usually losing power at this point due to the thinner air at higher altitude. Not so with electric cars.

Sources: EV West on YouTube and Facebook