Jim Morris, a Midlands businessman and racer of historic cars, is scheduled to compete in the 104th running of the world-famous
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado Springs (USA), on 21 June 2026, having spent the past four years designing and building the ultimate Volkswagen Golf (VW Golf). The 12.42-mile course, which features 156 corners and climbs to an altitude of more than 14,000ft, is regarded as ‘one of the most demanding motorsport challenges in the world’. Mr Morris’s target is to break the current front-wheel-drive record of 10min 48sec, which has stood since 2018.
Mr Morris said: “Having read about the mystique of Pikes Peak in
Autosport magazine since I was a child, it has always been my ambition to compete. Just over four years ago I embarked on this project with a clear goal — to build a car capable of breaking the front-wheel-drive record.”
The car has been designed and built by Morris’s own preparation and restoration business,
GTS Motorsport, based in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. It incorporates the engineering expertise and in-house products of Mr Morris’s motorsport companies, including Coventry-based Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems, Old Hall Performance Ltd, and Trident Racing Supplies, based at Silverstone.
“Many elements of the car have been designed, manufactured and supplied in-house. That’s a true testament to the skill and dedication of the talented teams across all our businesses. This Volkswagen Golf, which produces over 500bhp, underwent an extensive testing programme in mid-February and will be shipped to Colorado in early April.
“The project is being supported by Alcon Brakes, Racetech Seats, Swindon Powertrain, Xtrac Transmissions, ATL Fuel Cells, MCS Suspension, Competition Supplies, Willie Poole Motorsport, VP Racing Fuels, and Red Line Synthetic Oil. The car’s aerodynamic package has been designed by the aerodynamicist John Iley.”