Pastrana climbs to the clouds: Time For Tea?

Breaks the course record set by Higgins in 2014

The Mount Washington Hillclimb - otherwise known as the Climb to the Clouds - is one of the USA's oldest motorsport events. Held on a 7.4-mile road that scales New Hampshire's Mount Washington, the event pre-dates both the Indy 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb having first run in 1904.

It's been held irregularly since then, running for the 27th time over the weekend. Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana broke the course record in his 600bhp Subaru WRX STI, setting a time of 5mins 44.72secs. Pastrana's teammate, Manxman David Higgins, crashed out when his car slid off the road 2.5 miles from the finish line.

Back in 2014, when the hill climb was also a round of the Rally America Championship, Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew set what was then a course record with a time of 6mins 9.09secs. This video tells the story of the Climb to the Clouds, as well as showing Higgins' incredible commitment on the narrow, precipitous road and the speed and precision of Drew's pace notes.

Mount Washington doesn't have the scale or grandeur of Pikes Peak, but it certainly looks like a mighty challenge. It's no Shelsley Walsh, though, is it? Watch the video here