This year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Ford and Romain Dumas had a successful run with the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. Dumas managed to secure the overall victory and the Open Class win with a time of 8:53.553. This victory was a sweet redemption for Ford after their defeat last year by Wolf Racing, who had beaten them with the SuperVan 4.2.
Although the SuperTruck’s time was slightly slower than the SuperVan’s last year, which finished in 8:47.682, Ford mentioned that there was a technical issue during the run that caused Dumas to come to a brief stop, costing them about 26 seconds. Despite this setback, there is still some room left to break the overall Pikes Peak record of under 8 minutes, which is currently held by Dumas himself driving the VW ID.R.
Hyundai also had a strong presence at the event, with one of its Ioniq 5 N Time Attack cars finishing in 9:30.852 driven by Dani Sordo. The trio of Ioniq 5 Ns that participated in the event included another Time Attack car and a nearly stock example with a powertrain calibration specific for Pikes Peak. The stock Ioniq 5 N finished 26th overall and third in the Exhibition class with a time of 10:49.267, driven by Ron Zaras.
In the Exhibition class, the quad-motor Rivian R1T made its mark by finishing with a time of 10:53.883, driven by Gardner Nichols. Despite finishing last in its class, the Rivian showed significant improvement from last year with a time that was about 30 seconds faster. Additionally, Rivian now claims the title of the fastest production pickup truck to conquer Pikes Peak.
The competition at Pikes Peak this year showcased the advancements and capabilities of these vehicles, highlighting the fierce rivalry between manufacturers and the determination of skilled drivers. The event not only serves as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge automotive technology but also as a testament to the passion and dedication of those involved in the world of motorsports.