BLACHON BRINGS ELECTRIC VW FUN CUP TO PIKES PEAK
Colorado Springs, CO – Long recognized as one of the toughest proving grounds on the planet, Pikes Peak beckons drivers, manufacturers and component makers to its 12.42 mile course. This year’s Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, was no exception.
Four electric vehicles, one powered by hydrogen fuel, brought the latest in EV technology to the mountain. Six-time French competitor, Gregoire Blachon, was among them. Based in Nashville, TN, he presented a distinctive vintage look with his eye-catching 2024 VW Fun Cup.
Blachon is best known on Pikes Peak as the diesel fuel record holder, an achievement he earned in 2023 behind the wheel of his 2023 Radical SR Diesel. His time of 10:25.071 eclipsed the former record of 11.24.065 set in 2020 by Scott Birdsall in the fan favorite 1949 Ford F1 ‘Old Smokey.’
ROAD TRIP DISCOVERY
In 2012, Blachon and a friend, on a road trip from Nashville to Yellowstone, stopped in Colorado Springs, and it happened to be Race Week. He recalled, “We were completely amazed, loved the vibe of Pikes Peak, and decided to enter the next year. That’s how it started.”
But, Blachon’s racing roots had been planted during his childhood in France. His father (pictured on the left), a Group B co-driver for acclaimed Renault factory driver, Jean Ragnotti, passed away when Blachon was a child. Left with a book of photos and clippings about his father’s racing career, it was that keepsake that inspired Blachon to pursue his dream to race cars.
Starting at age 14, he began working on mopeds. As soon he could obtain a driver’s license, he purchased his first car. “It was a Peugeot 205 GTI, which is like a really hot version of the little hatchback,” he shared. “I started doing track days and little events here and there.”
FIRST PPIHC
Blachon’s first entry was in 2013 in the Pikes Peak Open division. His 1996 Subaru Impreza Boxeer Diesel climbed to the summit in 14:50.304 for a ninth place division finish.
Blachon returned to America’s Mountain in 2020, this time racing in the Exhibition division in his 2020 Boxeer TDI Bug. His time of 11:25.107 was significantly faster than his clocking in the Impreza seven years before. He finished fourth in the Exhibition division.
In 2021, Blachon again presented a VW Bug, this time a Proto TRI-TDI Diesel. With the race shortened by adverse weather, all competitors would run only to 16 Mile.
Blachon also took part in the 100th Running of the Race to the Clouds in 2022 presenting his 2022 Radical SR Triple Turbo. The fog-shrouded mountain denied any record setting runs during the milestone event, but competitors were able to make their way to the 14,115′ summit.
RECORD RUN
When Blachon returned in 2023, conditions were ripe for setting a fuel type record, and he did just that in his diesel-fueled Radical SR Diesel. It was one of his biggest accomplishments.
“Before the starting flag is dropped, it’s a big moment. My heartbeat is to the max, even though I’m doing nothing. Then, engaging with the road suddenly removes the pressure, and it feels like magic.”
Gregoire Blachon
POWER SWAP
In a departure from his diesel powered entries, Blachon raced an electric Volkswagen Fun Cup in 2025, moving to the Unlimited division. Again, weather shortened the course, but the popular entry powered its way to the finish line, nonetheless, finishing in 5:03.800, and putting on a show for the fans.
Asked about his post-race tradition, Blachon proudly shared, “Nutella crepes. I love to eat one at the finish after the race!
GET TO KNOW GREGOIRE BLACHON
Instagram: @boxeer_
Fun Facts:
“I grew up in the south of France. I’ve always loved mountaineering and camping in the Alps.”
“I live in Nashville on 105 acres of forest with my beautiful wife and three kids.”
“When I’m not wrenching on cars, my job is to make neurological devices to help treat patients with Parkinson’s disease.”
Biggest accomplishment in motorsports: “There are two, our Boxeer/Salty Frog Racing land speed record for a diesel truck at the 2024 WORLD of SPEED at Bonneville – 163.328 mph; and setting the diesel fuel record on Pikes Peak in 2023.
Advice for a PPIHC rookie: “Learn the road really well. Watch many, many videos of all the drivers that you can find. Look at it again and again, until you know it by heart.
“Also, be sure your car is dialed in. You don’t want to get here and have something amazing that’s not dialed in. Then you have to wrench on it and be miserable. You want to be able to focus on learning the track.”
If you could race any car, from any era, up Pikes Peak, what would it be? “My dream would be Michèle Mouton’s Quattro just the way it was when she raced on Pikes Peak – very little aero, on a dirt road and feel that raw horsepower scream up the mountain. That was pure racing.”
BLACHON’S DIESEL-FUELED RECORD RUN
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Charles Zhao, Jason Zindroski.
Other: PPIHC Archives, Gregoire Blachon
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
