PPIHC DIVISION WINNERS AND RECORD SETTERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Spain’s Dani Sordo, a WRC champion clocked the fastest time in the Exhibition division setting the benchmark Electric Modified SUV/Crossover record in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N TA Spec in 09:30.852. Hyundai established a second electric vehicle record for an Electric Production SUV/Crossover of 10:49.267, with Ron Zaras behind the wheel. PPIHC veteran, Randy Pobst, rounded out the trio of Hyundai drivers who brought an impressive effort to Pikes Peak with his time of 09:55.551.

Turbo

In the inaugural year of the exciting new GT4 division, Laura Hayes bested all drivers in her Toyota Supra GT4, taking top honors in the Turbo-designation class. Her impressive time of 10:20.487, a personal best, makes her the fastest woman ever to race a car to the 14,115′ summit. Only Germany’s Lucy Glöckner, who raced a motorcycle in 2019 with her jaw-dropping sub-10 minute time of 09:58.878, has made a faster run.

Normally Aspirated

Competitors in two other manufacturer-endorsed efforts, Ford and Porsche, competed in the normally aspirated class. Nuno Caetano, representing Portugal, came out on top in his Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport with a winning time of 10:23.034, his best time on Pikes Peak. Robb Holland and Chris Becker, both Colorado drivers, took second and third, respectively.

It was all Porsche in the Time Attack 1 division. Clocking his fifth sub-10-minute run, a 09:49.429, David Donohue, clinched the division win. Donohue also claimed the Bergmeister Award, given by Porsche Colorado Springs and Fred Veitch, for the fastest Porsche in the entire field.

In third place, Jerome France of Romania, a rookie on Pikes Peak, brought in a time of 10:44.501 driving his 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS.

The mountain was not kind to racers in the Open Wheel division. By the end of Race Day, four Open Wheel contenders, including past champion and division recordholder, Codie Vahsholtz, would be sidelined with mechanical issues. As the saying goes, “The mountain decides.” Cole Powelson, was forced to change vehicles just days before the race, and the move paid off as he finished fourth overall, and won the division in his 2021 Sierra Alpha in 09:33.222, his best time ever.

Italy’s Christian Merli clocked a 09:04.454 in his 2024 Wolf Aurobay GB08 2.0 HP, the second fastest time of the day overall, and the winning time in the Unlimited division. Merli was also awarded Rookie of the Year for his amazing accomplishment on America’s Mountain.

Third place went to the UK’s Duncan Cowper who, in a nod to Wickstrum, bills himself as “The Fastest Plasterer.” This was Cowper’s second consecutive third place result.

France’s Romain Dumas, now a 5-time King of the Mountain, mastered the 156 turns in the Ford Performance all-electric entry, a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. His division win, and King of the Mountain crown were both awarded for his top finish time of 08:53.553.

In a remarkable third place finish, rookie Ethan Hunter of Colorado Springs, a late add from the waitlist on May 21, finished in 10:47.501 in his 2013 Port City Stock Car.