Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Superstar Clint Vahsholtz will Drive the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports/Toyo Tires McLaren 12C on June 24
Colorado Springs—– Flying Lizard Motorsports and Toyo Tires® have partnered to enter an auto in the 2018 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo. PPIHC legend Clint Vahsholtz will be in the driver’s seat of the No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports/Toyo Tires 2014 McLaren 12C, a throaty 616-hp, 3.8-liter V-8 flyer, in the Time Attack 1 Class.
Vahsholtz (Woodland Park, CO) owns 23 championships on America’s Mountain since 1992, the most by any competitor in the grand history of the race. After switching from motorcycles to autos in 1996, he collected 16 titles in the Super Stock Car Division, including 11 straight wins from 1996-2006. Vahsholtz holds the Super Stock Car record of 10:55.603 set in 2011.
The former NASCAR driver won the Pikes Peak Challenge – Open Wheel Class crown last year in his 2013 Ford Open with a class record time of 9:35.747, and he’s looking forward to a new challenge on the mountain this summer.
Vahsholtz will face stiff competition in the Time Attack 1 Class, featuring 23 drivers from seven nations. Hill Climb veterans Fumio Nutahara (2012 Electric Division winner), David Donohue (2nd in Time Attack 1 last year at 9:49.954), James Robinson (3rd in Time Attack 1 in 2017 at 10:03.433, and current Alternative Fuel-Hybrid record holder), and Fred Veitch (2014 Time Attack 2 Production Class champion) are among the entries in the field. Belgian driver Vanina Ickx, a 24 Hours of Le Mans veteran, will join the group in her rookie debut on Pikes Peak.
“I am very excited for the 96th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and my new partnership with Flying Lizard Motorsports and Toyo Tires this year,” said Vahsholtz. “With the precise car set up and engine tuning of Flying Lizard Motorsports for the McLaren 12C and the extreme grip of Toyo Tires on what can be a very slick course surface, I’m looking for my 24th win.”
“It is always a huge pleasure to welcome Clint Vahsholtz to the race,” said PPIHC Executive Director Megan Leatham. “He’s the winningest driver in Pikes Peak Hill Climb history, and his amazing record and skill partnered with the broad-based appeal of Flying Lizard Motorsports will be exciting to watch.”
“When this opportunity was first brought up, we knew we couldn’t pass this up,” said Flying Lizard Motorsports Program Manager Darren Law. “We’ve had a lot of success with Toyo Tires in our tire development program, and we’re really looking forward to this event and a new challenge.”
“The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a bucket list item for any motorsports fan in the world and we are thrilled to partner with Flying Lizard Motorsports, McLaren and Clint Vahsholtz this year,” said Marc Sanzenbacher, Senior Manager, Motorsports for Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Pikes Peak is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the grip and performance of our Toyo® Proxes® Race Slicks as the race presents many unique challenges for a tire due to the bitter cold, uneven road surface, and constantly changing conditions.”
About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based in Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in auto racing, having celebrated six driver and team championships, as well as competing eight times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team currently races in Pirelli World Challenge, Porsche Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA, and Porsche Club of America.
The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, expanding again in 2015 to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the 2015 season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016 and 2017.
For more information, visit lizardms.com. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car.
About Toyo Tires®
Established in 1966, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. represents the innovation, quality, performance, and excellent service that Toyo Tires has delivered worldwide for over 70 years. The company offers a full line of premium tires for nearly every vehicle including light trucks, SUVs, crossovers, sports cars, luxury cars and hybrids as well as commercial trucks. Many of the tires are built in the United States at their state-of-the-art factory in White, Georgia. To find the right tire for your vehicle as well as an authorized dealer, visit www.toyotires.com. Join the Toyo Tires community on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
