FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 1, 2023
BEHIND THE WHEEL
ASTIER RETURNS TO AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN
IN ALPINE A110 FOR
101st RUNNING OF THE PPIHC
Colorado Springs, CO – The 101st Running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, presents 70 drivers from around the world and across the USA on June 25. Veteran competitor, Raphael Astier of Le Tein, France, is poised to challenge the 12.42 miles course for the fifth time.
Photo by Larry Chen
Raphael Astier took Pikes Peak by storm in 2016 behind the wheel of his 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Competing in the 100th anniversary edition of the world famous Race to the Clouds, Astier notched a podium second place finish in the Time Attack 1 division, and was awarded 2016 Rookie of the Year with his time of 10:06.006.
Astier returned in 2018 this time in the Pikes Peak Challenge division’s, Pikes Peak Open class claiming second in the class, and third in the division in his #30 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS in a fast sub-10 minute clocking – 09:53.718
In 2019 Astier brought the eye-catching 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Turbo to the Time Attack 1 division, and powered his way to a division win in 09:23.721, his fastest run to date.
In 2021, Astier again traveled to the US to pilot the 2015 BBi Turbo Cup to a win in the Pikes Peak Open division. One of the Fast 15 qualifiers, Astier had high hopes of a quick, clean run on Race Day. However, icy conditions on the upper section of the course dictated that drivers would run only to the 16 Mile marker.
Complimenting it’s aggressive aero features, this purpose-built Alpine boasts 500 horsepower and only weighs 950 kilograms (2,094 pounds) for an impressive power to weight ratio useful for the 156 turns. Astier claimed the 2022 FIA R-GT World Cup Championship with Alpine and is now poised to showcase what the Alpine A110 GT4 Evo can do on the mountain. Look for the #110 in the Time Attack 1 division at the 101st running of the Race to the Clouds.
Get to Know Raphael Astier:
Three Things For Fans To Know:
I am a fan of your country.
I am a fan of this race.
I love the behavior of all these enthusiasts!
Pikes Peak Mentor – Romain Dumas
Favorite Track – Monte Carlo Rally
What makes racing on Pikes Peak different from racing anywhere else? “The altitude and memorizing the turns.”
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
