CAETANO CLAIMS GT4 VICTORY IN SECOND PPIHC APPEARANCE
Colorado Springs, CO –The 102nd Running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, attracted drivers from around the world to challenge the 156-turn, 12.42-mile race to the 14,115′ summit of America’s Mountain. Returning to Pikes Peak for the second time, Portugal’s Nuno Caetano stood at the top of the podium following his win in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division in the Normally Aspirated class.
FROM SECOND TO FIRST
Caetano competed in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division in 2023 in his #77 2020 Porsche Cayman Clubsport finishing in 10:50.741, for second place in the division.
As part of the first-ever GT4 Trophy division in 2024, Caetano explained, “What an amazing class! Cars are remarkably close together and can run competitive times up the mountain. I just love the fact that it all works. The fact that the packages are so established allows you to focus a lot more on your own driving than getting lost in constant set up changes. You can just turn the car around and go again; seat time is up there!”
His 2024 run behind the wheel of his 2023 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport bested the other normally aspirated entries in the class. Caetano shaved 27 seconds from his 2023 time to cap the win this year in 10:23.034, his best time yet and a record in the new division. Comparing his rookie year to this year’s run, Caetano shared, “I was a lot better situated this year. It also helped to be run by the same team and with a similar vehicle. On the negative side, I put a lot more pressure on myself than I had last year. So, it really ended up cutting both ways.”
FAST 15
Signing autographs for fans at the OPTIMA™ Batteries Fast 15 Alley during Fan Fest, Caetano was part of his first Fast 15 autograph session. Sharing his most memorable moment from this year’s Race to the Clouds, he explained, “Making Fast 15, and being on the pole in my class was, by far, the most memorable. I was having a tough time in qualifying and spent 90% of the session anywhere between five and ten seconds slower than the competition. Then, somehow, I managed to put it all together on the very last run. I don’t have a live lap timer on my dash, so I hoped I had improved enough to stave off embarrassment, but never dreamed I’d be P1 with more than a five second improvement!”
PORTUGAL’S CHAMPION
“PPIHC is globally renowned, and Portugal is no exception,” Caetano shared. “It’s getting to a point where I am known for basically two things – having run the Isle of Man TT and now Pikes Peak. For fans, my more than five years of off-road racing, Porsche cup races, plus a lot of rallies and hillclimbs seem to just disappear between those two milestones!”
Planning the trip from Portugal to the USA, while working weekly in London, isn’t easy. Caetano expressed his appreciation for the team effort it took to make it happen, “I have to thank my very patient employer and my sponsors. I tried to make it all work for everyone and this being the second time round I think it did.”
THE MISSING YELLOW GLOVES
“This year I ran my yellow gloves as spares, Caetano shared. “I do a fair bit of rallying in Portugal and, with that, come punctures and tire changes on the side of the road. Bright yellow does not work well with oil and dirt! So, I started running black. But, these will be back next time I run up the mountain, for sure!”
WHAT’S NEXT?
“I will continue to Hillclimb and rally in Portugal as a base, but I want to do more in the USA. There are loads of tracks I have not experienced, and I’d love to have a go at circle tracks stateside. We’ll see.”
Asked about plans to return to Pikes Peak in 2025, Caetano is quick to share, “Yes! After the pole, Fast 15 and the class win, I am left with one Pikes Peak objective: sub-10-minutes. It’s possible with the GT4RS, but maybe easier to accomplish with a different vehicle. That, and budget, are the discussions at the moment.”
GET TO KNOW NUNO CAETANO
Fun Facts:
“I dabbled with go karts and dirt bikes from a relatively young age, but I actually started racing later in life. I was 33 when I started racing bikes and 41 when I started in cars.”
“I loved all things motorized in my teens and fuels my addiction for that by being a private math tutor.”
“I’ve grown up in Portugal. My favorite spot to vacation is Algarve, Portugal. It’s tough to beat!”
For visitors to Portugal, don’t miss…
“I would say Lisbon, as a whole, and within that I would make sure to make it to a tiny spot of heaven called Azenhas do Mar and enjoy seafood at the restaurant with the same name.”
Any other racers in your family?
“None. My family was very averse to motorbikes, and ambivalent about cars. I had to weave my own way to make connections in motorsports.”
Watch Nuno Caetano Win Normally Aspirated Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama Class in 2024
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo; Larry Chen, Jason Zindroski, Luis Garcia, Charles Zhou; Headshot: Ean Proctor Photography
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
