Toyota turned up at this year’s Pikes Peak hill climb challenge with the P002 EV racer to take part in the electric class, which has become increasingly more important over the past few years. And the little Toyota set the bar very high by climbing the 12.4 mile course in 10:15.380 – much quicker than the previous electric record of 12:20 and a very remarkable time in its own right.

They got lucky though, as Monster Tajima had to retire from 2012 Pikes Peak. He was preparing a killer electric car for this year’s event, but things didn’t work out and he had to sit this one out. He’ll be back next year going after Toyota’s record.

Toyota’s P002 is quite a car with a Radical chassis and two electric motors which together make 350 kW (470 hp) and 900 Nm of torque. Cars like this should warm the cockles of your heart, because they prove that electric sports cars – that are sure to replace the conventional ones in a few years – will actually be able to perform. Before this Toyota had also set an electric Nurburgring record with the P001.