British racing driver Katherine Legge will compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb next month.
The Guilford-born driver will be competing for the first time in the famous event, which sees competitors climb 1,440 metres (4,720 feet) over the 12.42-mile Colorado course.
Legge suffered mixed emotions at the recent Indianapolis 500 race, having endured a nail-biting fight to qualify. However, engine failure saw Legge forced to retire early from the race.
Despite her extensive motorsport history, having raced in everything from sports cars to NASCAR, this is the first time Legge has competed at Pikes Peak.
A magical race to the clouds
“This is a race that I’ve wanted to compete in since I first heard of it, which is for as long as I can remember,” Legge said.
“The legacy of this event is enormous, and so many famous drivers have tackled the mountain: the Unsers, the Dallenbachs – including my friend Paul – Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears and Michèle Mouton. I can’t wait to get there! It’s magical and something I’m not taking lightly!”
For 2024, Legge will drive an Acura Integra Type S DE5, developed for production-based touring car racing.
A relative of the Honda Civic Type R, the Integra features a 360hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, combined with a six-speed paddle-shift transmission.
Paul Hubers, from Honda’s Auto Development Center, will also be racing an Acura Integra A-Spec at Pikes Peak.
Reaching for new heights
Winning at Pikes Peak would be another achievement in Legge’s career. She holds the record for the fastest Indianapolis 500 qualifying time, and was the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America in 2005.
Acura is just one manufacturer looking for victory at Pikes Peak in 2024.
Hyundai has already announced that it will use multiple versions of the high-performance electric Ioniq 5 N. The Korean brand is pursuing victory in the electric production SUV/crossover category, with a pair of near road-legal cars.
Volkswagen has the outright record at Pikes Peak. Its time of 7min 57.15sec was achieved by the electric ID. R racer in 2018.