ROBB HOLLAND CLAIMS FIRST DIVISION WIN IN TIME ATTACK 1
Colorado Springs, CO — The 103rd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, crowned a new champion in the Time Attack 1 division, sponsored by HELLA.
Despite the windy conditions and shortened course, ending at Glen Cove near Mile 13, all fourteen drivers reached the finish line.
Robb Holland of Denver, Colorado, gave a standout performance to clinch his first division win on Pikes Peak. Holland, a seven-year veteran of the Race the Clouds, made the run in his Rotek Racing, HELLA-backed 2023 Porsche GT3 Cup, in 04:24.478. His race week qualifying runs gave him his first appearance on the OPTIMA Batteries Fast 15 list.
David Donohue, son of famed racer Mark Donohue, and experienced Hill Climb veteran, pushed his BBi Autosport Porsche 911 Turbo S to the limit to claim second place. His time of 04:27.673 was just three seconds off Holland’s pace.
Beyond the competition, Donohue continued his established tradition of greeting drivers as they finished the race.
British rookie, Damien Bradley was impressive in his Team Legacy 1992 Subaru Legacy, claiming third place in 04:28.395. Bradley arrived at Pikes Peak with a background in hill climbing in both France and the UK.
Kathryn Mead of Santa Fe, New Mexico, finished fourth, just two seconds behind Bradley, in her 2019 Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport. Mead was Rookie of the Year in 2020, was second in the TA1 division last year, and has two third place finishes in the former one-make Porsche division.
Rounding out the top five was Toshiki Yoshioka in a 2020 Toyota Supra, completing his run in 04:31.257. Yoshioka returned for his fifth race and has previously run a Nissan Silvia, a Subaru BRZ and a Scion FRS on the mountain.
Lance Fenderson and Tyler Pappas, both bringing BMW M2’s to the mountain but with different goals, experienced extra adversity leading up to Race Day.
Fenderson, a rookie from North Carolina, is a quadriplegic driver, using hand controls and breath to pilot his race car. During a testing session on the mountain, Fenderson lost control and hit a guardrail in the middle section, causing major front end damage. His team was able to put the M2 back together in time for Race Week, and he finished the shortened course in a respectable 4:54.914.
Back for his third year on the Mountain, Pappas entered the 103rd running in a BMW USA M2 with eyes on setting a new Production Car Record. While running the upper section on the last day of practice, Pappas pushed a little too hard and lost his brakes just before the unforgiving corner of Cog Cut.
Low and behold, the team decided to do whatever it took to get Pappas back in the driver’s seat for Sunday. In a matter of hours, the car looked like it never had an excursion over some Pikes Peak boulders and was even ready to be displayed at Fan Fest that evening.
VIEW OFFICIAL RESULTS
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Jason Zindrosky
Additional photo by Tyler Pappas.
