Powerful Unlimited and Popular Time Attack 1 Divisions
Via PPIHC Chris Leone, PPIHC Contributor – 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.
GT4 and Pikes Peak Open Poised to Challenge the 156 Turns
GT4 PIKES PEAK TROPHY BY YOKOHAMA DIVISION
The GT4 lineup was announced later than the rest of the entry list, but that didn’t mean it was lacking in the star power department.
Leading the rookie charge is Emelia Hartford, who boasts more than 2.1 million Instagram followers and 1.72 million subscribers on YouTube. A multi-time quarter-mile world record holder, her latest record was set in December with a Nissan Z she built in less than two months.
While Tad Cusack is no stranger to Pikes Peak on two wheels, he’ll be running on four for the first time in 2025. Nearly two decades ago, Cusack raced twice in the Supermoto division, finishing second on his first attempt, behind PPIHC Hall of Famer, Greg Tracy.
Bringing Aston Martin to Pikes Peak for the first time in 2025, Steve Wetterau rounds out the GT4 rookie roster. The California native is eager to tackle the mountain, as his work with BBi Autosport has seen him deeply involved behind the scenes on many of the team’s successes over the years. Behind the wheel, he has extensive karting experience and currently competes in the BMW M2 Cup.
PIKES PEAK OPEN
Colorado’s own Scott Anderson has raced everything from the Road to Indy, where he finished on the podium in the 2015 Freedom 100, to stage rally and Red Bull Global Rallycross.
Alex Kim is well known on both two wheels and four—alongside his driving efforts in road racing, time attack, and autocross, he co-owned DNA Pro Cycling, a professional women’s cycling team, for more than a decade. When he’s not behind the wheel, he remains a devoted sponsor of women in motorsport, including Porsche Carrera Cup standout, Sabre Cook.
Kim will be joined on a two-car Rayteam effort by Emmanuel Cecchet, one of the New England area’s best-known rally drivers and a passionate supporter of those looking to get into the sport for the first time. Cecchet will drive the same car that Laszlo Keskeny took up the mountain in the team’s debut last year.
After winning last year’s NASA Southeast Super Unlimited title, Tracy Gaudu will take her next step by heading to Pikes Peak. If Gaudu’s atomic orange 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 doesn’t turn enough heads for its color, it will for her pace behind the wheel—Gaudu has set records in the Pine Mountain Hillclimb several years in a row, and added multiple NASA Southeast Time Trial championships along the way.
Josh Tenge is no stranger to driving on the toughest surfaces imaginable, such as Arctikhana, a Colorado-based series that turns Georgetown Lake into multiple racing courses. His 2012 Audi TT RS is also well known at Pikes Peak with its bold color scheme and years of previous experience.
Christian Ghimbos will also campaign a 2012 Audi TT RS under the ACG Racing banner. The German-born Ghimbos competed in stage rallies throughout Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and most recently scored the Touring 1 title in the US Majors Southern Conference two years ago.
With an extensive resume that includes SCCA Majors, SpeedTour, and US Vintage Racing events, Maor Primo will bring a car to match his experience in his Pikes Peak debut. The 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA-M is sure to turn heads as one of the most iconic vintage machines on the grid.
Patrick Culligan trades two wheels in the desert for four on tarmac with his Pikes Peak debut this year. Culligan raced the SCORE Baja 1000 in Pro Moto Ironman two years ago, taking third in class for his efforts.
At the end of the day on Race Day, one of these eager first-time racers will be named PPIHC Rookie of the Year.
Tune in June 22nd to find out who will claim the glory!
Photos by: Rupert Berrington, Josh Hildenbrand, Nathan Leach-Proffer, Joel Yust
