LAURA HAYES SET TO COMPETE IN NEW PIKES PEAK GT4 TROPHY BY YOKOHAMA DIVISION
Colorado Springs, CO – Competitors from around the world and across the nation will converge on Pikes Peak in June for the 102nd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. South Carolina’s Laura Hayes will compete for the third time on America’s Mountain as one of 71 elite competitors, including four other women. Hayes has entered the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division in her 2022 Toyota Supra GT4.
Asked what draws her back to competition on Pikes Peak, Hayes eagerly shared, “I love absolutely everything about this race. You’re pushed mentally and physically in ways you don’t get to experience in other forms of racing. It’s an ever-evolving challenge from year to year. Since I’ve been competing, Mother Nature hasn’t fully cooperated, so I haven’t been able to show our true capabilities.” She continues, “Colorado Springs has become one of my favorite places to visit, the scenery and beauty of Pikes Peak is unmatched and so are the people. I can’t wait for June!”
First Look at the Mountain
In 2020, Hayes was invited to drive the Parade of Champions car, presented by Winslow BMW of Colorado Springs. This role required her to make a trip to the summit behind the wheel of the BMW M8 Competition to lead the drivers back to the Start Line, post-race. By the end of the day, Hayes was hooked on Pikes Peak. But, that wasn’t her first time driving up the mountain. Hayes shared, “I drove up Pikes Peak in 2010 during a work trip with SRT in the new Challenger at the time. Part of the road was still dirt and I remember thinking who would actually race up this?”
Returning to Compete
The following year, when Hayes entered the race, fans had their first opportunity to see her compete behind the wheel of her 2021 BMW M2CSR. The bright purple livery made her easy to spot as she arrived at Technical Inspection, made an appearance at PPIHC’s Gold Hill Mesa concert event, practiced on the mountain in early morning runs, and raced up the mountain through foggy conditions.
When race day arrived, she would have to settle for racing on a shortened course due to icy conditions on the upper section. All drivers would finish at the 16 Mile marker where flagman, Derek Jordan, had been relocated from the Summit. Hayes finished 5th in the Time Attack 1 division.
Hayes was back for the milestone 100th Running in 2022 and eager to finally race to the summit as she and Thunder Bunny Racing arrived for Technical Inspection with the fan-favorite BMW.
Following a week of practice runs over three sections of the mountain, Hayes was ready to stitch it all together and make a full-course run on Race Day.
The car was ready and Hayes was ready. However, in a near repeat performance of 2021, the 156 turns were obscured by fog. Drivers were able to race to the summit, but no records were set.
Hayes finished 12th in the Time Attack 1 division in 12:07.951.
BMW to Toyota
Asked about her 2024 move from racing a BMW in the Time Attack 1 division to the Toyota Supra in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division, Hayes explained, “We made the move to the Toyota Supra GT4 platform in the endurance racing series we compete in full time. BMW and Toyota’s partnership on this car made for a smooth transition for us as a team, and the car is an absolute blast to drive. We were pleased and excited to hear that the PPIHC had created a new division for GT4 cars and we knew we had to be a part of it.”
GET TO KNOW LAURA HAYES
Fun Facts:
“My daily driver is a 2013 Mini Cooper S.”
“My dad raced stock cars with the #21, so when I started racing, I added one and now I race #22.”
“My Pikes Peak hero has to be Michèle Mouton.”
Do you remember the first time you were asked for your autograph?
“I don’t remember the first time, but I do remember giving a speech at my former elementary school years ago and the kids went nuts! One girl was like, “Sign my forehead!” It was so funny.”
Favorite Section: “The lower section. It has a great rhythm, fast sections, hairpins, a little bit of everything.”
Most Challenging Section? “Probably the middle section. Things are serious all the time on Pikes Peak, but this is when you really can’t afford to mess up.”
Advice for rookie drivers on the mountain? “Believe in yourself, respect the mountain and enjoy the moment. Seeing the sunrise at 14,000′ from behind the wheel of your race car…there’s no other feeling as special and beautiful as that!”
Favorite Track: “Road America. “I remember my first time at Road America and it really got my attention. It’s old school, fast, and mistakes are costly, making it a challenge. When I get to the end of a lap at a race track and I’m not satisfied with the way I drove, those are the tracks I enjoy the most. I guess it’s similar to Pikes Peak – you can always be better. But, at Pikes Peak you’ve only got one chance, then you have to wait until the next year rolls around.”
What has been your biggest accomplishment during the past year? “Winning the WRL GTO National Championship in our new Supra.”
What advice would you have for women looking to become involved in motorsports? “Whether you want to be a driver, an engineer, a photographer or something in between, no one’s stopping you from doing what you love, except maybe yourself. Get comfortable being uncomfortable and take that risk. All of this only happens once.”
If you could race any car up Pikes Peak, what would it be? “Probably Michèle Mouton’s Audi Sport Quattro. The car is rad. She’s rad. That was a cool era in motorsports history.”
WATCH LAURA HAYES MAKE HER 2022 RUN TO THE SUMMIT
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo, Leif Bergerson, Louis Yio, Charles Naboy, Luis Garcia, Jason Zindroski, Courtesy of Laura Hayes
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