Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
| Location | Colorado Springs, Colorado USA 38°50′N 105°02′W / 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 ( Romain Dumas, Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, 2018, Unlimited) |
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 the U.S. state of Colorado. 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%. 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.
The race is self-sanctioned and has taken place since 1916. 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.