The 104th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place tomorrow, June 21, 2026. If you haven't been paying attention to Colorado Springs this week, now's the time: the Race to the Clouds is in full swing, and Sunday's summit run is going to be worth watching.
First staged in 1916, Pikes Peak is the second-oldest automotive racing event in America — and arguably the most dramatic. The summit sits at 14,115 feet above sea level. Thin air messes with engines and human lungs alike. Last year, 80-mph summit winds forced organizers to dramatically shorten the course. Sunday's forecast matters as much as qualifying times.
The FWD Record Hunt
The storyline to track: Dai Yoshihara in a purpose-built Acura Integra Type S, gunning for the front-wheel-drive class record. The current FWD benchmark is 10:48.094, set by Nick Robinson. Yoshihara has been one of the most technically precise drivers in U.S. motorsport for years — Formula Drift champion, prototype road racer, now Pikes Peak contender. If conditions cooperate, this run could be the one.
Records on the Line
- Overall course record: 7:57.148 — Romain Dumas, 2018, Volkswagen I.D. R (electric)
- FWD class record: 10:48.094 — Nick Robinson (target for Yoshihara/Acura)
- What Yoshihara brings: Acura Integra Type S TA1 race car, 360hp+, full aero, technical precision built over a decade of precision motorsport
Ten Vintage Builds Worth Watching
One of the things that makes Pikes Peak different from any other motorsport event is the field depth and range. Alongside purpose-built prototypes and factory-backed machinery, you'll find decades-old muscle cars with modern drivetrain transplants making their own runs up America's Mountain. Hagerty profiled 10 of the vintage entries this week — here are two that caught our eye:
These are the entries that remind you Pikes Peak isn't just a technology showcase — it's a proving ground where passion sometimes matters as much as budget. Watching a 60-year-old Mustang attempt the same mountain as a factory-backed electric prototype is genuinely one of the most "motorsport" things motorsport does.
What to Watch For Tomorrow
Conditions at summit. After last year's 80mph wind cancellation, everyone is watching the forecast. The mountain can shut down race day without warning.
Yoshihara's FWD attempt. This is the marquee storyline for the class records. Watch for his sector times early in the run — if he's on record pace through the lower section, the upper mountain will determine everything.
The vintage field. No live leaderboard will capture how these cars look on the mountain. If you're watching the RACER Channel stream, the vintage entries mid-field are worth the subscription alone.