Pikes Peak Climb: A Long-Term Spanish Presence
Dani Sordo, a Spanish pilot, has written his name in the history of the Pikes Peak Climb, becoming the second Spanish driver to participate in the competition. Sordo, driving a Hyundai IONIQ 5 N ‘TA Spec’, completed the ascent of nearly 20 kilometers and 156 curves, securing the Exhibition category and finishing third on the absolute podium.
Despite having no prior racing experience and driving an electric racing car for the first time, Sordo outperformed his teammate, Randy Pobst, who was also racing the same car. Sordo’s impressive drive showcases his skills and adaptability behind the wheel.
Romain Dumas, the King of the Mountain
In the 92nd edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Frenchman Romain Dumas claimed the top spot, securing his fifth win. Dumas, known for his exceptional driving skills, won despite experiencing a setback when his Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, an electric pickup developed by the American manufacturer, stopped just a few seconds into the ascent.
Dumas, who also holds the absolute record of the test achieved in 2018 with the Volkswagen ID.R, was able to recover from the incident and set a new best time, finishing under 9 minutes. With a time of 8:53.553, Dumas demonstrated his incredible skill and control behind the wheel.
“I stood up by myself. And it’s something that hasn’t happened to us in two years,” explained Dumas at the finish line. “Luckily, I was able to do a reset, the car started, and we were able to continue.”
A Time that was Not Satisfying Enough
Despite achieving victory, Dumas expressed disappointment at not reaching his goal of improving his time from last year. “The goal was to improve last year’s 8:47… but this is Pikes Peak, there is only one attempt, and if you have a small or big mistake… there is no option,” said the Frenchman at the finish line.
Other notable finishes include Christian Merli, an Italian rookie, who finished with a time of 9:04.454 in the category Unlimited, driving a Wolf Aurobay GB08 2.0 HP.
