Suzuki isn’t the only Japanese manufacturer to achieve success on the fabled Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Toyota has quite the storied history as well.
Starting in 1994, Rod Millen rocketed up the hill in a Toyota Celica, crushing the overall record by almost 40 seconds. The al-wheel drive Celica was powered by a four-cylinder engine making in excess of 800 hp. Millen’s record would stand until 2007 when it was finally beaten by ‘Monster’ Nobuhiro Tajima in a Suzuki XL7.
1994 wouldn’t be Millen’s only success with Toyota as he won overall again in 1996 and 1997 with the Celica. In 1998, he switched to a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and won once again, repeating with the big-winged Taco truck in 1999.
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