PERSISTENCE LEADS TO PAYOFF:
EMELIA HARTFORD PROVES HERSELF AT PIKES PEAK
Colorado Springs, CO – YouTube star, car builder, actress, and professional driver, Emelia Hartford, brought a unique skill set to compete in the 103rd running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, in June.
Prior to her Pikes Peak attempt, her racing experience included SCCA, the Pre Grid events with Apex, and test days at the Las Vegas Speedway in the Lamborghini SuperTrofeo. Beyond auto racing, Hartford is an accomplished car builder with several world speed records to her name.
BUILDING CARS AND BREAKING RECORDS
In June 2021, she broke the world record for quickest Corvette C8 in the quarter-mile with a 9.36-second time, and a top speed of 147 mph at the Famoso Raceway in Southern Colorado, during private testing. She held that record for more than a year.
After her success with the Corvette, Hartford built what is currently the fastest new generation Nissan Z in the world, in her garage, in less than 60 days, laying down a 181.85 mph run in 7.75 seconds on the quarter-mile strip.
Describing her two records, Hartford called them defining moments in her motorsports career, “It’s been a long road, literally and figuratively. I started out building cars in my garage with almost no resources, just a lot of curiosity and persistence. Over time, that turned into breaking records with the C8 Corvette, Nissan Z, and building some of the fastest cars in the world.”
“Each project taught me something new about precision, patience, and problem solving under pressure. All of these things translate directly to racing a mountain like Pikes Peak.”
RETURN TO LIFE – A WAY TO GIVE BACK
Hartford’s immersion into the car scene came about soon after she lost her father to suicide when she was 15 years old.
In recent years, she created The Hartford Project. This is her way her way of championing mental health wellness, and includes her Return to Life apparel line and car-care products. All proceeds support mental health awareness.
One of her goals is to build a community through sharing a love of cars and car culture. Hartford is also a board member and supporter of the Alive and Well Foundation.
INSPIRATION
“I’ve always admired Pikes Peak for what it represents. It’s one of the purest forms of racing; just you, your car, and a mountain that doesn’t care about a backstory. It’s one of the few places left where you can prove your driving abilities through focus and discipline,” explained Hartford.
“There’s a camaraderie and respect that’s unique to this event. Everyone is there for the same reason…to challenge themselves and honor the legacy of this mountain. It’s a community unlike any other, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”
Emelia Hartford
“Michèle Mouton’s story was a big part of what drew me in. She was the only woman to win King of the Mountain.
“I actually have a photo hanging in my office of her racing the Audi Quattro up the dirt course. This wasn’t about proving a point, it was about performance. That mindset really resonated with me.”
WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT NORTH AMERICA (WIMNA)
During race week, Hartford shared the stage not only with Mouton, but fellow competitors Tracy Gaudu and Loni Unser, FIA’s Burcu Çetinkaya, and panel moderator, Lyn St. James, at a WIMNA event – Women of the Mountain – Past, Present and Future.
Panelists shared stories about their pathways to Pikes Peak, where their Pikes Peak racing careers led them, and their hopes for more women to compete in the sport they are all so passionate about.
Audience members were particularly engaged in the Q&A session asking the speakers at what age they started racing, favorite racing memories, and advice on how to begin.
REFLECTING ON THE RACE TO THE CLOUDS
Hartford made her racing debut on Pikes Peak in 2025 behind the wheel of 2022 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division.
“Being my Rookie year, I chose to race in the GT4 naturally aspirated class, with Mobil 1 and Porsche Colorado Springs,” explained Hartford.
“My focus was to have a car I could rely on consistently so I could spend my time learning every inch of those 156 turns.”
Like other GT4 racing, balance of performance (BoP) standards on Pikes Peak adjust weight, power, aerodynamics, and fuel limits to ensure different cars compete equally in the division. The only difference between the classes is that one allows use of a turbocharger.
Although Hartford described the race as demanding, unforgiving and addicting, she proved she was up to the task. Her finish time of 4:47.756, over the shortened course, earned her second place in class. With a difference of just three seconds separating first and third place, the tightly bunched podium finishers showcased the success of the GT4 division and the BoP program.
With an impressive qualifying time of 4:26.451, the fastest in her class, Hartford was poised to capture the win on race day.
When the results were in, veteran PPIHC competitor, Cam Ingram, won the class in a 2024 S650 Mustang GT4, with Hartford second, and PPIHC Hall of Famer, Clint Vahsholtz, sporting the iconic #81 on a 2023 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport, in third.
“When the opportunity came to race Pikes Peak with Mobil 1, it felt like the natural evolution of everything I’d been working toward,” shared Hartford.
“Testing the GT4 RS at altitude and feeling how every small setup change affected the car reminded me why I fell in love with racing in the first place. It’s not about ego or exposure; it’s about the pursuit of mastery.”
ON THE BIG SCREEN
Hartford has enjoyed success both on and off the race track.
With her role as Leah Vega in 2023’s Gran Turismo, along with her appearance on the Netflix reality show, Fastest Car, she has amassed more than two million subscribers on her YouTube channel.
GET TO KNOW EMELIA HARTFORD
Instagram: @ms.emelia
Fun Facts:
“I love to snowboard.”
“I traveled the US as a competitive rock climber.”
“I love a good bean and cheese burrito. I also enjoy sushi.”
“I love the world of cinema, from making movies, to watching movies, to writing, and acting.”
Significance behind your race number: “I typically race #9, but that was taken this year. So, I chose 0. I felt it best represented a clean slate and the start of something new.”
Pikes Peak hero: “Jeff Zwart is someone I’ve looked up to for a long time, not just as a racer, but as a storyteller. He’s one of those rare people who can translate the soul of motorsport into something cinematic and timeless.
“He helped champion my decision to compete. He’s more than a racing icon, he’s a benchmark for how I want to approach every chapter of my career, with purpose, humility, and an obsessive love for the craft.”
Three things you need in the race trailer: “Snacks, warm clothes, and good people!”
Biggest accomplishment in motorsports: “One of the defining moments was when we finally broke the world record with my twin turbo C8. That car was never supposed to do what it did. It showed me that the limits people set are usually just comfort zones, not actual boundaries.”
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Charles Zhao, Jason Zindroski,
Other: Emelia Hartford
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