Events & Tours
Pikes Peak: The Race to the Clouds
Pikes Peak, the legendary race in the Rocky Mountains, features a 20-km course with 156 curves. Since 1916, it has attracted international attention, showcasing cars' technical evolution. Today, it's a safer but still thrilling challenge.
In America, nestled in the stunning setting of the Rocky Mountains, lies a legendary race. So unique, it has become an international event where car manufacturers showcase their technical prowess. This is the Pikes Peak, a nearly 20-kilometer course featuring 156 curves, with a finish line at an altitude of 4302 meters. In 2018, Romain Dumas completed it in a mere 7 minutes and 57 seconds, driving the electric Volkswagen ID.R. But this race has always been about records: the first edition in 1916 was won in just over 20 minutes, on a nearly unpaved road that was fully paved by 2012.
Dubbed America's most dangerous race, although only six drivers have lost their lives in over 100 years, Pikes Peak has witnessed the evolution of cars, often featuring vehicles specifically prepared for this unique event. International attention focused on the Pikes Peak in the mid-'80s when Audi entered the Quattro, a World Rally Championship Group B star, driven by Michèle Mouton. To create even more sensation, they chose the French champion, and in 1985, she won, setting a new record at 11 minutes and 25 seconds. To this day, she remains the only woman to have achieved this feat.
