June 2021 • By Nestor Cabrera • Photos Marcus Cervantes, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and Red Bull

It’s hard to believe that the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is over 100 years old. Started in 1916 by Spencer Penrose to promote his new highway. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb Contest as it was originally called is the second oldest race in the US, just a few years younger than the Indy 500. Like the Indy 500 the Broadmoor Pike Peak International Hill Climb remains one of the world’s toughest events that continue to grow in popularity and international status.  

The first winner was Rea Lentz with a time of 20:55.60 minutes. To put that in perspective the current record is just 7:57.148 minutes set in 2018 by Romain Dumas driving the electric VW I.D. R—it’s the same car that holds the current record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Of course, we’re not comparing apples to apples. The track that measures 12.42 miles (19.99 km) has over 156 turns. It climbs 4,720 ft (1,440 m) from the start at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway, to the finish at 14,115 ft (4,302 m), on grades averaging 7.2%. The surface was once fully gravel then a combination of gravel and pavement. In 2002 the City of Colorado Springs began to pave the surface. By 2012 the entire course was paved.

Over the course of its existence, many famous names have competed against the mountain that is Pike Peak. Legends like the Bobby Unser, Rod Millen and Michelle Mouton just to name a few. Bobby Unser set many records on the unpaved road which were later broken by Rod Millen who to this day holds the record for the unpaved race at 10:04.540, a record which will never be broken.  

Since the paving of the road the 10 minute mark has been broken several times. The first competitor to complete a sub 10 minute pace was Nobuhiro “ Monster” Tajima who took the overall win in 2011 with a time of 9:51:58 at the 89th running of the race. Since then the 9 minute barrier was broken by rally driver Sebastian Loeb in a Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak Special, with a time of 8:13.878 a time that seemed unsurpassable, that is until fellow Frenchman Romain Dumas broke into the 7 minute zone in an all-electric Volkswagen I.D.R with a time of 7:57.148 in 2018.

The bar has been set very high by VW and Dumas and since the record braking achievement no one has surpassed the 9 minute mark. Last years race winner Clint Vahsholtz won with a time of 9:35.490 in a Ford Powered open wheel car.

This year’s race not only sees the return of several record holders, among them Rhys Millen and Romain Dumas, but also sees the return of spectators to the mountain. Dumas, driving a Porsche GT3 Cup car specially prepped for Pikes Peak and Milled a Bentley Continental GT also prepped for the hill climb will give fans their money’s worth as they attempt to add another championship to their already extensive list of accolades.

What makes Pikes Peak so interesting is the change in elevation, the change in the weather and the variety of cars competing in the six classes:  Exhibition, Open Wheel, Pikes Peak Open, Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama, Time Attack 1 and Unlimited Division. The oldest car is a ’67 Camaro driven by Tommy Boileau. There’s a 1974 Datsun 240Z owned by Shawn Bassett, a 2017 Mustang GT widebody driven by Kash Singh, a TDI Diesel powered VW Bug driven by Gregoire Blachon, as well as 9 other Porsches. Plus there are a three Teslas and even a 1996 BMW M3 driven by James Clay that is worth watching.

Weather can play a huge factor for the 99th running of the race as showers and even snow are expected all throughout the race.

For more information visit: http://ppihc.org/