UNFINISHED BUSINESS ON PIKES PEAK
LONI UNSER SLATED TO RETURN IN 2025
Colorado Springs, CO – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, is on pace to welcome 70 drivers on June 22. Five of those are women. Fourth-generation Unser, Loni Unser, will return for a fourth run on the mountain, along with veterans Kathryn Mead, Katherine Legge, Ryan Cheek, and rookie, Tracy Gaudu.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, here’s a look at Loni Unser and what drives her to compete on Pikes Peak.
FAST 15 IN 2024
“Last year at Fan Fest, it was so cool how many people came up and said, ‘Dang, girls in the Fast 15!’ I love being able to show that women can compete and excel in motorsport.” [referencing both Unser and Laura Hayes in 2024’s OPTIMA Batteries Fast 15 qualifiers]
DISAPPOINTMENT TO INSPIRATION
Unser’s experience on the mountain included two previous races through the 156 turns to the summit, including a podium finish. Back for her third year on America’s Mountain in 2024, Unser talked about being sidelined at Devils Playground. She’d made her initial attempt, but was forced to return to the line to make a restart after an incident took place on the course ahead of her. Taking her second green flag of the day, she was running well until the car became extremely hot and caught fire at the top of the 4th leg of the switchbacks.
She shared, “Having a mechanical was a massive bummer last year after being on a really good run. So, when my car, Lucy, was towed to Devils Playground, I thought to myself, ‘What good will it do me to sit here and be upset? Why don’t I take this time and help share my passion?’ Ultimately, one of the biggest reasons I race is because I love to inspire other people to chase their dreams. So, as kids started to show up to check out my Turbo Cup car, I started letting them climb into the driver’s seat. Watching their eyes light up made all of the heartache worth it!”
Unser continued, “I hope that day I inspired someone to do something they love, and maybe something they’re a little bit scared of.”
“If you have a dream, find a way! If you want to work in motorsport, it’s important to make connections. So, show up, introduce yourself, and be open and willing to learn!”
Loni Unser
PIKES PEAK AND THE UNSER #92
The number #92 is iconic on Pikes Peak. Generations of Unser’s have campaigned it with great success. Loni Unser first raced with it in her rookie year, 2022, in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division, where she finished in second place in 12:55.774.
She returned in 2023, this time driving for Acura in the #92 Integra Type S model in the Exhibition division. The fan favorite, anime-liveried, race car was a tribute to Acura’s series Chiaki’s Journey which showed the strength and determination of their fierce female competitor, Chiaki. It was a perfect fit for Unser who raced in the Exhibition division, summiting in 11:34.709.
In her 2024 attempt, Unser experienced the highs and lows of Race Week. From frigid and foggy on a practice day, to a warmer than usual race day, she made the best of the conditions every day.
“Racing on Pikes Peak has helped me in all aspects of my career,” shared Unser. “My first year running, in 2022, I partnered up with Yokohama and Mobil 1, and I am lucky enough to have continued both of those relationships for the past three years.
“I’ve also had the privilege of meeting people like Jeff Zwart and Betim Berisha at BBI who are now a very big part of my 2025 campaign. Both of them have also taught me an incredible amount about the industry as a whole.
“For me, Pikes Peak is so cool because I have built some lasting friendships and relationships. It doesn’t matter if you are driving, working on a team, coaching, photographing, or representing a brand, everyone who gets to spend the month of June on the mountain develops a bond due to the uniqueness of the event, and maybe the trauma of waking up every morning at 2:30am!”
HONORING THE PAST AND EMBRACING THE FUTURE
Loni Unser’s grandfather, Jerry, raced in 1957 in his record-setting Unser Ford (pictured) with his time of 15:39.20 in the Stock Car division. His father, Joe Unser, was one of a trio of Unser brothers to establish the name on America’s Mountain in the late 1920s.
Johnny Unser, Loni’s father, challenged Pikes Peak twice in the early 1990s and set the stage for the first female in his lineage to set her sights on the 14,115′ summit.
Look for Loni in June, behind the wheel of the #92 Porsche 911 Turbo Cup in the Pikes Peak Open division on the 2025 Competitor List, as she makes her fourth run, and cheer her on as she passes Devils Playground.
GET TO KNOW LONI UNSER
Instagram: @loniunser
Fun Facts:
“I went to college for Landscape Architecture, I think it would be really cool to be a race track designer one day. It’s a perfect combination of two of my favorite things!”
“I love anything outdoors, including skiing and mountain biking. Recently, my Dad and I went snowmobiling in Idaho. He absolutely rips on a snowmachine, so it’s fun to go out with him and try to keep up.
“I also just got into surfing! It’s been fun to be a beginner at something and start from scratch.”
Loni Unser with Tim Matthews, Curator at the Museum of American Speed, and sponsor of the Unser Legacy King of the Mountain ring, present 2024’s champion, Romain Dumas, with the one-of-kind award.
And mark your calendar! The grand opening of the Museum of American Speed’s Unser exhibit is slated for April, 2025. Plan to trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to experience and explore the rich legacy of the entire Unser family.
Favorite Corner: “I love Blue Sky! One of the most iconic videos of my Uncle Bobby racing Pikes Peak shows him going through Blue Sky and it’s just the coolest video on the planet. So, I like it for that reason, but I also like it because it’s very fun and technical.”
Most Challenging: “Overcoming the top section is ALWAYS top of mind on Pikes Peak, because not only is it the fastest section, but it’s also the most high commitment. It changes year to year with the frost heaves, so you have to constantly be learning and relearning it. It’s also challenging from the engineering side of things in that you have to make sure your car is well balanced, but has compliancy over the bumps, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Plus, if you’re going to get difficult weather conditions anywhere on the road they will likely be happening on the top section. So, testing up there can often be cut short. It’s tough, but that’s what makes it so much fun.”
Three ‘Must-Have’ Items in the Race Trailer:
“LIGHTS! You may not think of bringing lights, but on Pikes Peak you’re up there in pitch black before the sun comes up so lights are an absolute must.”
“A tarp for the ground on the upper section, again one of those things that you wouldn’t prioritize on a normal race team, but having a tarp to park your car on in the dirt parking lot of Devils Playground is pretty crucial!”
“Of course, if you want to go fast you HAVE to have Yokohama Tires and Mobil 1 lubricants!”
LONI UNSER SHOWCASES TALENT WITH ACURA INTEGRA TYPE S IN 2023 PPIHC
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo; Larry Chen, Luis Garcia; Louis Yio, Charles Zhou, Jason Zindroski, PPIHC Archives.
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