FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 16, 2023
BEHIND THE WHEEL
COLORADO LEGEND AND THREE-TIME KING OF THE MOUNTAIN PAUL DALLENBACH SET FOR 29TH APPEARANCE AT 2023 PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
Colorado Springs, CO – As The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, prepares for a second century of racing on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, drivers from around the globe are getting ready to showcase their talent on June 25.
No stranger to Pikes Peak, Paul Dallenbach of Basalt, Colorado, is closing in on three decades of racing on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain with 2023 representing his 29th start. Since his rookie year on the mountain Dallenbach has set two Open Wheel division records and chalked up 10 division wins.
Dallenbach first entered the famous Race to the Clouds in 1989. In a span of only five years he would take the top honor, King of the Mountain. Notably, his 1993 overall win in the Open Wheel division also set a course record. Finishing with a time ten seconds faster that 1992 King of the Mountain, Robby Unser, Dallenbach was one to watch.
Ten years later, 2003, Dallenbach earned his second overall crown, again behind the wheel of his #98 open wheeler.
A weather-shortened course in 2004 allowed race organizers to crown dual Kings – one for drivers in divisions that completed the full course and one for competitors in divisions who could not run to the summit after storms moved in. Robby Unser was awarded a full-course overall win, and Dallenbach earned his third King of the Mountain for his fast time in the short course group. This was the only time in the 100 year history of competition that more than one King was named.
The fastest time Dallenbach clocked on the mountain, 09:36.041, was in 2016 during the PPIHC’s 100th anniversary celebration. Running in the Unlimited division in his PVA 03, he claimed second place behind Romain Dumas who would clock a sub-9 minute time.
Dallenbach’s most recent division win came in 2021 in his 2006 PVA-003 Dallenbach Special. He is slated to return to competition in June in the popular #98 PVA. “I am looking forward to the 101st running. Anyone who thought the enthusiasm would die after the 100th running was wrong,” shared Dallenbach. “I am very excited to bring my open wheel back to the mountain and it looks as competitive as ever.”
The 100th Running of the PPIHC celebrated the Dallenbach family as they were inducted to the Pikes Pikes Hill Climb Hall of Fame in recognition of their decades of participation and service, their roles as ambassadors and the legacy they have created on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain.
With a lifelong passion for driving, Dallenbach is a sought after professional stunt driver with credits in many popular films including Fast & Furious, Need for Speed and Ford vs. Ferrari. He recently spent seven weeks in Italy on a historic film project set to be released late this summer.
Photo Credits: Larry Chen Photo – Larry Chen, Leif Bergerson
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
