“The Race to the Clouds”
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile hillclimb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, USA. The track measures 12.42 miles (19.99 km) and has over 156 turns, climbing 4,720 ft (1,440 m) from the start at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway, to the finish at 14,115 ft (4,302 m), on grades averaging 7.2%.[1][2] It used to consist of both gravel and paved sections, but as of August 2011, the highway is fully paved; as a result, all subsequent events will be run on asphalt from start to finish.[3]
The race is self-sanctioned and has taken place since 1916.[1][2] It is currently contested by a variety of vehicle classes. The PPIHC operates as the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb Educational Museum to organize the annual motorsports event
Location Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
38.84°N 105.04°W
First race 1916
Distance 12.42 mi (20 km)
Circuit information
Surface Tarmac (historically, dirt)
Turns 156
Lap record 7:57.148 (France Romain Dumas, Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, 2018, Unlimited)
