Pikes Peak, Nurburgring 24, IMSA at The Glen, Moto GP at Mugello, and more I'm not listing...this is a busy (meaning: great) weekend for racing fans.
Photography by Rupert Berrington unless otherwise credited
What makes the annual climb to the top of Pikes Peak so unique among the world’s many motorsport events?
Yes, there’s the hillclimb part and little in the way to prevent competitors from launching themselves off the mountain, but what makes it so special–and several to so many racers–is that you only get one run to set the fastest time possible, no do-overs.
The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, takes place for the 103rd time on June 22.
Over 70 entries are signed up to make the annual Race to the Clouds, including open cockpit prototype racers, highly modified production cars, wild EV hillclimbing machines and even a few tributes to the famed Audi quattro rally car.
While every single vehicle making the climb this year is special, here are eight that I’m eager to see compete.
Wagons are cool, but race wagons are even cooler.
Cooler still? Try an Audi 200 Avant with a V8 under the hood and primed to take on one of the most iconic hillclimbs in the world.
Enough said.
Following up something as wild as last year’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck may be no easy task, but I think Ford’s constructed a suitable sequel, this time “based” on the Mustang Mach-E.
I put “based” in quotes because Ford’s Super Mustang Mach-E just barely resembled the production Mach-E.
Good for some 1400 horsepower, the Super Mach-E’s massive front splitter and rear spoiler help to produce nearly 7000 pounds of downforce at 150 mph, says Ford.
For the chronically online enthusiast, you’ll likely recognize this RX-7.
[Video: The quest to build the fastest Mazda RX-7 at Pikes Peak]
Built by longtime rotary engine lover Rob Dahm, the RX-7 is powered by a–yep, you guessed it–rotary engine.
Power output? A not-too-shabby 1000 horsepower. (Remember when 500 horsepower was a big deal?)
As excited as I am to see this one, I’m equally looking forward to hearing it.
Remember the S197-chassis Boss Mustang? Yeah, the one that was designed to be more track focused of the lineup.
While the limited Laguna Seca edition turned the dial up even more (you didn’t even get back seats), this Boss 302S is all that and then some.
Essentially a turn-key race car, the 302S was ideal for classes like SCCA World Challenge GTS and NASA American Iron.
In a sea of modern race machines with lots of aero, this ’67 Alfa Romeo is a welcome interruption from our regularly scheduled programming.
Sitting low and wide, the GTA-m is joined by only a handful of old-school racers, including a 1972 Porsche 911 ST and a 1967 Chevy Camaro.
Here’s one Corvette that’s pretty much done it all, including our annual Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge.
[She Started in Autocross, Now Road Races a C6 Corvette Z06]
Corvette race cars are rarely not cool as heck, but this one is a little extra special as a former GRM competitor. (The Lingenfelter LS7 under the hood doesn’t hurt, either.)
Photograph by Vlad Tyeryekhov
What’s a Fun Cup? Think of it like a European version of Legend Car, designed with a spec body, spec engine, spec chassis, etc.
According to the entry list, this one uses an electric powertrain in place of the more common 1.8-liter VW inline-four.
Above all, the car has “Fun” in the name, so how could I not love it?
Watch out Toyota, Honda also has a hydrogen race car…well, sort of.
The hydrogen fuel cell version of the CR-V, the e:FCEV, will become the first hydrogen-powered vehicle to compete at Pikes Peak, per Honda.
Also, according to Honda, the e:FCEV’s powertrain will be unmodified when it takes to the mountain, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of time it puts down. (The CR-V’s suspension, brake pads, wheels and tires have all been upgraded, however, as well as a racing seat and roll cage.)
Pikes Peak, Nurburgring 24, IMSA at The Glen, Moto GP at Mugello, and more I'm not listing...this is a busy (meaning: great) weekend for racing fans.
Yes to that Alfa, Colin.
The bug is called the Bug Zappa. The shop that built it in the UK also does all sorts of electric conversions on cool cars. How cool? Jensen Interceptor, Testarossa, BMW Batmobile, Aston Vantage...
I REALLY Want a Fun Cup Beetle... 
I know the guys racing that Avant! They'd melted a piston on their 3rd run, but found a backup and got it back together in time for tech. Can't wait to watch them race. Car sounds incredible
The 2024 Volkswagen Fun Cup is also on my list, too. Something about a bug, the first car I ever wanted when I turned 16, hauling up Pikes Peak makes me happy.
It says the Mach-E Aero package makes 7k lbs of downforce at 150mph. I'm guessing that's at sea level, and impressively more than double what F1 cars make in high downforce configurations at the same speed. From a search, it seems that Pikes Peak starts 9,390 ft of altitude meaning about 27-28% less air density and 35% less density at 14,000 ft. I'm too lazy to do the actual calculations since temperature other factors impact those numbers.
That also has to be a weird adjustment as the car has less grip the higher up the mountain you go. This is part of why I suck at iRacing on cars with downforce (I mean I'm slow anyway). Even just the way you have bleed the brakes down in a straightline because you're losing the aero grip as the car slows.
Also, why does 150 mph seem to be the speed often used to quote downforce numbers at?There are very, very, very few corners in the world that any race vehicle is taking close to that speed. And they are almost all F1 and prototype-type race cars on big F1-style tracks.
Also where can we watch?
In reply to z31maniac :
Via Racer: How to Catch the Action on RACER Network & RACER+ - Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
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