Ford Performance team introduces the latest F-150 Lightning Supertruck EV demonstrator vehicle that will attempt a new speed record up the “American Mountain” – the Pike Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). Here is everything we know so far. Let’s dig in!
Ford says that this F-150 Lightning demonstrator will be piloted by Romain Dumas, a winning Le Mans racer, a veteran hill climb driver, and a current hill climb record holder. Romain holds the overall PPIHC record at 7:57.148, and the Pike Peaks Open class record at 8:47.682. Romain is a top notch driver, so we may see yet another record run this year if all pieces fall into place.
Ford did not release many specs on this one of a kind race truck, but the company says this Supertruck’s body work can generate 6,000 lbs of downforce at 150 mph. It is all electric, and Ford is looking to use this racing vehicle as a test bed for latest electric motor, battery, and other components.
Driving 12.42 miles up a mountain road may sound relatively simple, but it’s not. This mountain road is narrow, the course consists of 156 turns, and it’s dangerous. The finish line is at 14,115 feet above sea level.
This hill climb demands the best from the machine and the driver. Electric motors, inverters, batteries, and brakes can easily overheat during a top speed run. You only get one chance to drive the entire length of the course and it’s on race day against the clock. We will be watching this very closely.
Here is what happened on the PPIHC in 2020.
The 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is just a three weeks away. The event is planned for June 23, 2024. This is a local event for our team, and we have followed it for a couple of decades. Here is just one of our videos from a previous PPIHC.
