Powerful Unlimited and Popular Time Attack 1 Divisions
Colorado Springs, Colorado — The 103rd Running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo, follows in the footsteps of recent editions with a large and impressive field of rookies. This year, the first-timers spread across four of the six divisions, with 21 racers in total set to ascend the mountain for the first time. Here’s a look at drivers in the Unlimited and Time Attack 1 divisions hoping to take the checkered flag at the summit on Race Day.
UNLIMITED DIVISION
The allure of Pikes Peak attracts some of the top hill climb drivers in the world.Diego Degasperi aims to become the latest European driver to cross the pond and go for an overall victory. The Italian has raced a mix of prototype, formula, and rally cars in similar events around the world, and comes off a successful 2024 season with multiple victories and even more podiums.
After a late switch to his entry, Danny Aitken will be bringing a familiar machine hoping to “Shake and Bake” at Pikes Peak in his first attempt. He’s taken over the 2016 Chevrolet SS that Layne Schranz raced, most recently in 2022, with a livery tribute to memorable moments from Talladega Nights.
Kyle Wilder brings an extensive history of hill climb, track day, and other road racing experience to Pikes Peak in his 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE. Last September, he topped his class at the Virginia City Hillclimb. As an active police officer, he has also served as the West Coast organizer of Racing for ALS, in honor of his former partner, who passed away from the disease.
Green Beret Racing driver, Eli Olivas, will race for a larger purpose than himself in his debut this year. Olivas, who has 10 years of military service to his name, carries the names of his fallen comrades inscribed on his 2024 Superlite Aero GM Supercharged LT5, which has been named “The Mourning Star” in their honor.
Eric Moineau will bring the Caterham brand to Pikes Peak with a 2019 Roadsport Championship Sevens3. Moineau is a regular competitor in the Caterham single-make series in France. He has also competed in Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, Tour de Corse Historic Rally and the Dakar Classic.
TIME ATTACK 1
After attending last year’s event and even waving the green flag on race day, Lance Fenderson will get behind the wheel this year in a 2020 BMW M2. After paralysis temporarily halted his racing career at just 19 years old, Fenderson has returned to the cockpit, with hand and breath controls, to take on the 156 turns on Pikes Peak.
Damien Bradley’s association with the Subaru Legacy goes back well over a decade, and extends to Pikes Peak for 2025. Last year, the car became the fastest closed-top vehicle to ever reach the top of the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hillclimb, the oldest racing venue in the world still contested on its original course.
Ludovic Gherardi has taken part in some of motorsport’s most iconic events, including a finish in this year’s Dakar Rally. He’ll compete at Pikes Peak for the first time with the support of Romain Dumas in a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
Wush Racing’s Shilun Wu, who boasts extensive experience in series like Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle, will head to the mountain for the first time in a 2012 Ford Mustang. Wu joins many of the same competitors he’s faced off against in those events.
Ernesto Ramirez holds the Global Time Attack Ascend class AWD record, which he set at Pikes Peak International Raceway last summer. Now, the Destroyer Racing Mitsubishi Evo trades in one local venue for another as it looks to ascend the mountain for the first time.
Stay Tuned! Rookies in the Pikes Peak Open and GT4 Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama divisions make their debut tomorrow.
Photos by: Rupert Berrington, Josh Hildenbrand, Nathan Leach-Proffer, Joel Yust
By Chris Leone, PPIHC Contributor
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www.ppihc.org
