FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 6, 2023
BEHIND THE WHEEL
CANADA’S GILLES NADEAU RETURNS FOR
2023 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
Colorado Springs, CO – On June 25 seventy drivers will be on the grid for the 101st Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. Ten competitors will travel from countries outside the USA to tackle the 12.42 mile course.
Gilles Nadeau of Knowlton, Quebec City, Canada returns for his second year on the mountain after a successful rookie year in 2022 in the Pikes Peak Porsche Trophy by Yokohama division. “Last year my goal was to finish the race, period. Finishing 3rd in my division was something I did not expect.” He clocked a time of 13:03.389 behind Cam Ingram who won the division and Loni Unser in second place.
Aiming to finish in the top three once again, Nadeau will be back on the mountain in his 2020 Porsche GT4 Clubsport. “Since I left Colorado last June I’ve been thinking about the race almost every day,” he shared. “Now I understand why so many drivers keep coming back to Pikes Peak. There is no other race like this one.”
Get to Know Gilles Nadeau:
- “I didn’t start racing until I was 48 years old. It’s never too late to do something wild and crazy.”
- What makes Pikes Peak different than racing anywhere else – “It’s probably the only race where you never use your mirror!”
- Favorite Section – “Between Cove Creek and Elk Park”
- Most Challenging Section – “Right after Devils Playground”
- Favorite Track – Sebring
- Pikes Peak Hero – Jeff Zwart
Any good luck charms – “Last year the day before the race I drove my truck up the road and came face to face with a bighorn sheep! Being an Aries, I felt this bighorn was wishing me good luck!”
ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s six race divisions feature a wide variety of vehicles – from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles. The current race record was set in 2018 by Romain Dumas and Volkswagen in the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak – 07:57.148.
Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
