GARDNER NICHOLS BESTS HIS OWN ELECTRIC PRODUCTION TRUCK RECORD ON PIKES PEAK IN 2024
Colorado Springs, CO – At the 2024 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, Colorado’s Gardner Nichols was back on the mountain not only promoting Rivian technology, but showcasing what the electric-powered truck was capable of.
As a rookie in 2023, Gardner Nichols, returned in 2024 with experience, determination and the new 2025 Rivian R1T Quad-Motor truck, a second generation beast that he described as ‘hilariously fast’, and at 1,025 hp, it delivered a new record for Nichols.
Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain has served as a proving ground for pushing automotive technology to the limit for more than a century. EVs have been at the forefront of driving innovation for decades, but now the spotlight is on electric-powered trucks – not to mention this year’s overall winner.
FROM KARTING TO TEST DRIVER
Growing up in Colorado, Nichols shared some of his auto racing roots, “I’ve competed quite a lot in this state,” he said, “From the old Rotax kart series in Colorado to SCCA Autocross and NASA club racing, even ice racing and snow rallycross!”
He was part of Paul Dallenbach’s crew in 2011 as a 16-year-old, and that experience helped spark his racing career.
Currently an engineer and factory test driver for Rivian Automotive, Nichols is passionate about working in the industry and competing in motorsports.
TECH INSPECTION
Nichols’ crew arrived at Tech Inspection ready for race officials to examine the race truck from every angle and ensure it met all race and safety rules. As the truck rolled onto the scales, bets were placed in anticipation of the final weight – a cool 7,000 pounds.
Before the first early morning practice session, the final inspection was made and the Tech-approved sticker was applied. Nichols was ready to put the truck to the test.
FAN FEST
One of the rewards for any driver on the mountain is the chance to show off their race car, meet fans and sign autographs. With the Rivian R1T on display, the crowd of nearly 35,000 got a chance to see the 2025 model, the same one they could purchase from Rivian, up close and talk to Nichols about how it handled on the mountain.
Describing the biggest challenge faced while racing the R1T, Nichols shared, “It’s no surprise the biggest challenge is weight management. With such a heavy vehicle (7,000 pounds) racing this abusive course in the thin air, there’s little cooling available, so you have to look after the brakes very closely.”
Nichols recounted how the massive truck racing on street tires handled as it headed up the mountain, “You have to think ahead when maneuvering this much mass! The power punches you out of corners so fast that you forget about the weight, but you need to remember it when it comes to braking or cornering. It’s still hilarious how well this truck handles, but if you get out of shape around a corner, it’s a lot more inertia to correct.”
RIVIAN BRANDING GOES FULL THROTTLE
“My helmet has the same color palette as my race vehicle from last year, which itself represented my different stages of working in and competing in motorsports,” explained Nichols. “The crown of the helmet had “Pikes Peak” written on it so I suppose this is now my Hill Climb-specific helmet! The suit probably made sense only to Rivian fans, but it was modeled after the Gear Guard character Rivian uses throughout the vehicle’s user interface.” He also shared, “Usually having 1000hp is serious business, but we wanted to keep it fun and light to show how hilarious it is to have that kind of power in a pickup truck!”
RIVIAN RECORD
Nichols raced for the first time in the Exhibition division, setting the inaugural Electric Production Truck/Van record in 2023 in his own 2022 Rivian R1T in 11:23.983. He bested that time this summer in a factory-backed Rivian R1T with a time of 10:53.883.
2025 AND BEYOND
With two years of Pikes Peak competition in the rearview mirror, Nichols expressed this thoughts on his future on America’s Mountain. “I think competing at Pikes Peak struck the hearts of many at Rivian. It proved to be a great source of data for developing current and future vehicles. Personally, I hope to return, and if it’s behind the wheel of a Rivian, I know it’ll be fast!”
GET TO KNOW GARDNER NICHOLS
Fun Facts:
“My favorite type of vacation is generally pretty active and adventurous. As much as I love relaxing on vacation, I get bored sitting on the beach, so my vacations often include mountaineering, backpacking or other adventurous travel.”
“I almost studied industrial design in college. As a kid my dream was to design cars but instead I chose to get a degree in mechanical engineering. This worked out just fine since I get to drive and test cars as a career.”
“During COVID in 2020, my wife, mother-in-law and I started a cookie company! I sort of thought of it as my homemade MBA. We were getting ready to expand just as my wife and I both got busy jobs, so the cookie company was shut down. But, we did have a (very small) decal on BBi Autosport’s Pikes Peak 911 GT2 RSCS that year!”
Favorite corner: “I really like the first set of corners, before 9 Mile. It’s just so fast and flowing, the driver is always actively turning and setting up the next corner!
Advice for a rookie driver on Pikes Peak: “Finishing the race is the top priority. During practice and testing, focus on learning the course. During the race run, focus on the road conditions and the vehicle health. If the car is getting too hot or the road is getting slick or your visibility is poor, slowing down is better than not finishing!”
Best place you’ve driven a Rivian? “I’ve been lucky enough to drive some Rivians at a proving grounds in New Zealand on a development trip. It’s one of my favorite places on earth.”
Any fun stories/memories from 2024? “The team Airbnb had a barrel sauna in the backyard. I bought a 60 gallon tote from the hardware store and we turned it into a cold plunge. It became a daily ritual after early morning testing to sauna and cold plunge before working on the car! 10/10 would highly recommend!”
Top Three Colorado Destinations in October: “Anywhere in the mountains to be honest! I love hiking this time of year with the crisp air and fall colors. Telluride is always special. Aspen since it’s their off season. Boulder is also fun in October.”
Watch Gardner Nichols 2024 Record Setting OnBoard Run
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo; Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Payton Smith, Charles Zhou, Jason Zindroski; PIkes Peak Region Attractions, Gardner Nichols
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Lisa Haight
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lisa@ppihc.org
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