Hyundai to return to Pikes Peak

Hyundai has announced its return to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on June 23rd of this year.

Also known as “The Race to the Clouds”, the event has taken place since 1916 and is a 12-and-a-half mile time trial which climbs 4,720 ft from mile 7 to a finishing height of 14,115 ft. Hyundai made its first attempt at the course in 1992 but last competed in 2018. The last major result achieved was a second-place finish in the Unlimited division with its PM580T car in 2013. This year, Hyundai will enter four cars and sitting in them will be an all-star lineup.

The three confirmed drivers are eleven-time Pikes Peak winner Paul Dallenbach, four time overall winner Robin Shute and Hyundai’s Spanish World Rally Championship driver Daniel “Dani” Sordo Castillo. The fourth and final driver, as well as the cars they will be driving, will be announced at a later date.

Alongside and backing up the drivers in Colorado will be Hyundai’s team of technicians and crew members who bring a wealth of experience with them having worked at Pikes Peak in past events.

“Pikes Peak is one of the unique and historical challenges still left in motorsports,” said Randy Parker, CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “It has stood the test of time because the mountain never relents. The weather makes getting a clean run extremely difficult and to conquer the mountain everything must go perfectly. A tremendous amount of preparation and a little bit of luck is required to break and set records. Going to Pikes Peak will prove the fortitude that these four vehicles have.”

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Hyundai