PAUL GERRARD BRINGS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO PIKES PEAK
Colorado Springs, CO – For the past 101 years, every driver has sought to meld their unique skills with the best machine to conquer America’s Mountain. Paul Gerrard’s background and path to Pikes Peak are impressive. Gerrard is preparing to race in the 102nd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo in June.
Many are familiar with his work on Top Gear as “The Stig”, a role he enjoyed for eight years. Others may know him as an author. Race fans have seen him challenge Pikes Peak six times. He’s done all that, and more, in his pursuit of all things racing.
The Road to Pikes Peak
In 1989, with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of West Virginia, and a scholarship to France’s Winfield Racing School, Gerrard set out on his racing career.
For ten years he was Director of Global Training for the Jim Russell Racing School. During the same span, he trained drivers in the Audi Sports Car Experience, the Audi Driving Experience, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Experience and taught teen and highway survival courses. He also worked as Chief Instructor for the Skip Barber Racing School’s special projects division.
His driving prowess led to work with the Bill Scott Racing School and NEK in teaching anti-terrorist driving techniques for more than 5 years.
Rookie Year on the Mountain
Gerrard entered his first Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 2002 behind the wheel of the popular Wells Coyote, a racecar purpose-built for the gravel course. Although he notched a DNF, racing on Pikes Peak had struck a chord with Gerrard, “It had always been a dream since I was a child, one of those events that grabs your imagination. The Race to the Clouds…it sounds improbable, impossible. I grew up in Virginia and the idea of a car racing at that altitude seemed so extreme. Out of all the racing I did and dreamed of doing, Pikes Peak was the ultimate challenge.”
It would be 15 years before he returned to compete on the mountain. In the interim, he not only had a long and successful career on Top Gear as the mysterious “Stig” but he authored a book, Optimum Drive – The Roadmap to Driving Greatness.
The book is a guide to maximizing human performance in any endeavor and focuses on attaining peak performance, building mental toughness, and learning how to stay in the zone.
Back on the Mountain
In 2017 Gerrard returned to Pikes Peak in the Unlimited division where he geared up for early morning practice sessions. The Enviate Hypercar finished second in division and 13th overall 10:19.312. In an episode of PPIHC’s YouTube series, Mastering the Mountain, Gerrard analyzes his 2017 run.
Another unique entry for Gerrard came about in 2019 when he brought a SIERRA Alpha but was unable to prove the full capability of the car since he had to settle for running on a shortened course.
In 2021, Gerrard brought the Enviate Hypercar Evolution and ran well during the week, but lost a wheel a half mile above the Start Line when it came to race day.
Milestone 100th Running
All eyes were on Pikes Peak in 2022 for the celebration of the 100th Running. Gerrard and the Enviate returned. As one of the Fast 15 qualifiers, Gerrard was ready to see what the car would do under race conditions. But, when the race day dawned cold, wet and extremely foggy, every competitor was just happy to reach the summit. Gerrard finished 8th in the Unlimited division.
Switching it Up
Gerrard returned in 2023 in the former Dan Novembre Open Wheel entry, the 2016 Novembre KMHRAL Special, but a mechanical issue nixed his hopes for reaching the summit on race day.
Asked about the differences between racing the Hypercar and the open wheeler, Gerrard shared, “The Enviate will always be the ultimate car, with all the potential in the world but with a good solid run seemingly always just out of reach. Everyone loves the idea of the “scrappy underdog” shocking the world, but the reality is you need budget to get the car to the level that it sits on the Start Line 100% tested and ready with no variable left unsolved (except for the famously variable weather).
“The Open Wheel car is a much simpler thing, much less downforce and power, you can therefore drive it like a traditional car, throw it around a bit more with everything happening a bit slower and a bit easier.”
Gerrard continued, “This year I will be in an Open Class Lancer Evolution. It will be somewhere in between the two. Based on a road car, but with a lot of aerodynamic downforce, it will be an interesting comparison.”
GET TO KNOW PAUL GERRARD
Fun Facts:
“My favorite foods are Sushi, Texas BBQ, and Lebanese (what else is there!?)
“My daily driver is a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and I’m racing one this year.”
“I was part of the driving team with Tanner Foust that broke the world record for jumping distance in a vehicle (Indy 500 in 2011 for Hot Wheels) 332ft.”
What is the hardest part about Race Week? “The hours, adjusting to the schedule with the early call times. You have to be realistic with time management and make sure the team is functioning efficiently. The better prepared you are (testing, practice procedures, roles, responsibilities, etc.) the more you can stay ahead of things and manage the pace of the week.”
Advice for rookie drivers on the mountain? “Don’t treat it like a race, just focus on a clean, tidy run. To make that happen it doesn’t take “luck” it takes preparation and humility. Lean on people who have experience on the mountain because it is singularly unique as a motorsports event, so you need to treat the mountain with the respect it deserves (it probably isn’t how you imagine it). Only people who have been through race week (preferably multiple times) really understand how to get to the top on race day so they are your best resource, come to the mountain humble. It really doesn’t care what you’ve done.”
If you could race any car up Pikes Peak, what would it be? “I think right now, like many other drivers, I would love to have a run in the McMurtry Speirling, the current Goodwood Hillclimb record holder. In the past, back on the dirt, I would love to try a sprint car, a Group B car, or anything Rod or Monster brought to the mountain…so many amazing cars!”
PAUL GERRARD BREAKS DOWN HIS 2017 PPIHC RUN
Photos by: Rupert Berrington, Larry Chen Photo, Luis Garcia, Jason Zindroski, Paul Gerrard
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Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
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