VETERAN DRIVER, PAUL GERRARD, TO RACE ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE IN 2025 PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB
Colorado Springs, CO – For more than a century The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, has welcomed automotive manufacturers to America’s Mountain. From the entries in the 1920s like Lexington, Essex, Ford, Hudson, and Stutz, to the muscle cars of the 1960s and ’70s, to today’s high performance, purpose-built powerhouses, the Mountain has seen it all.
Fans are sure to flock to Tech Inspection on June 16 to be the first to catch a glimpse of the 2015 Aston Martin Vantage GT-Pikes Peak with British-born driver, Paul Gerrard, behind the wheel in the Unlimited division. Naturally, Gerrard and SG Motorsports will run #007 as a nod to the iconic duo of Aston Martin and James Bond. Believe it or not, this will be the brand’s first appearance on Pikes Peak.
ONE SHOT ON DIRT
Gerrard first competed in the Race to the Clouds in 2002 in a 1986 Wells Coyote in the Open Wheel division. It was a different era, the last days of the all-dirt course. Of the thirteen cars entered in the division, only five would see the checkered flag, including 2002’s King of the Mountain, David Donner, and PPIHC first-time competitor, Tanner Foust. Despite a DNF in his first run, Gerrard knew his days on Pikes Peak were just beginning.
NO STRANGER TO TV
Gerrard’s focus shifted to the entertainment world and he appeared for eight years as “The Stig” on Top Gear USA, Mythbusters, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and several Speed Channel series.
On top of that, he authored a best-selling book about maximizing human performance in any endeavor, Optimum Drive – The Road to Driving Greatness.
“Pikes Peak is the one thing I do that forces me to operate at my absolute maximum. Nothing else even comes close.”
Paul Gerrard
CUSTOM BUILT MACHINES
By the time he returned in 2017 the course had been fully paved for five years. Entered in the Unlimited division in his 2017 Enviate Hypercar PP1800, Gerrard laid down an impressive 10:19.312 for second place in the division, and 13th overall. He recapped his entire run in a PPIHC YouTube episode of Mastering the Mountain.
“My car stalled on Olympic corner, right below the finish,” Gerrard recalled. “I tried to restart it for 30 seconds, and finally got it going after bump starting it in reverse. I couldn’t believe my luck when it fired and I got to drive through the last corner and take the checkered flag.”
In 2019 Gerrard transitioned to a much smaller entry, the Sierra Alpha and completed a weather-shortened course after a week of fair weather practices.
In 2021 and 2022 he entered his proven Enviate Hypercar, but didn’t enjoy the same success as his 2017 result. He finished in 2022 despite dismal weather conditions.
WILL THE STARS ALIGN?
Asked what keeps calling him back to Pikes Peak, Gerrard was quick to reply, “The challenge is unique. That big, old mountain has its own ideas, and we are at its mercy. All the planning and practice are not enough. You not only have to execute well (like any other type of racing), but the mountain has to allow it. Because of that, you keep coming back hoping for it all to align.”
Gerrard further shared, “I’ve had a very fortunate career path that has let me drive just about everything, everywhere, and Pikes Peak is easily the highlight for me every year I am lucky enough to participate.”
As he anticipates his seventh race on Pikes Peak, Gerrard shares, “This Aston Martin is a dream drive, it’s drop-dead gorgeous and incredibly quick…what more could any driver ask for?”
Stay tuned for this beauty to be revealed!
GET TO KNOW PAUL GERRARD
Instagram:@theoptimumdrive
Fun Facts:
“I grew up in Windsor England.”
“I have a Bernese Mountain dog, and four cats.”
“My favorite foods include sushi and Lebanese cuisine.”
“My daily driver is a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8. It has 215,000 miles on it, is fairly modified, and always fun to drive. I also have a 2001 Porsche Boxster S for weekends with my wife up in the mountains. Honorable mention is my 1995 Ducati 916 that I’ve owned for 28 years.”
Favorite James Bond movie: “I loved them all, but Skyfall really resonates.”
Three things you ‘must-have’ in your race trailer on Pikes Peak? “Lots of cold weather gear (those mornings are so cold), spare everything (hope for the best, but prepare for the worst), and a large thermos full of English Breakfast tea (did I mention it’s cold!?)”
Most Challenging Section: “I go back and forth between the first 2 minutes and last two minutes, both are super fast. On the bottom you have to commit immediately, feeling out the car and the conditions while trying not to lose time. Near the top it’s so wonderfully fast, you’re just trying to survive the bumps, and nurse what always seems to be an overheating, rapidly disintegrating car.”
If you could drive any car, from any era up Pikes Peak, what would it be? “There are so many amazing cars, but I want to break the overall record, so right now a McMurtry Speirling EVO.”
Advice for a PPIHC Rookie: “You only race the mountain at Pikes Peak, so don’t try to be competitive with the other drivers (we’re really just one big supportive family)! Ask a million questions, focus only on your preparation (car, team and driver) and set a goal to simply finish. That, in itself, is amazing because it’s so much harder than you think going into it.”
Advice for anyone hoping to pursue a career in motorsports? “Get a mechanical engineering degree, with a minor in business. And, at the same time, race karts competitively. Oh, and winning the lottery is extremely helpful!”
PAUL GERRARD STALLS AND RESTARTS AT LAST CORNER
Photos by: Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Luis Garcia, Jason Zindroski, , Rupert Berrington, PPHC Archives, Paul Gerrard
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lisa@ppihc.org
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