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LAURA HAYES NOW FASTEST WOMAN TO RACE A CAR TO THE 14,115 SUMMIT IN
PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
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Colorado Springs, CO – With the conclusion of the 102nd Running of The The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, six records were set; two of those by South Carolina's Laura Hayes.
Her time in the inaugural Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division, turbo class, established a benchmark - 10:20.487. With that clocking she overtook Kathryn Mead as the fastest woman to race a car on Pikes Peak.
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BMW TO TOYOTA
Asked about her 2024 move from racing a BMW in the Time Attack 1 division to the Toyota Supra in the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division, Hayes explained, "We made the move to the Toyota Supra GT4 platform in the endurance racing series we compete in full time. BMW and Toyota’s partnership on this car made for a smooth transition for us as a team, and the car is an absolute blast to drive. We were pleased and excited to hear that the PPIHC had created a new division for GT4 cars and we knew we had to be a part of it." Since Pikes Peak's new GT4 division was announced, Hayes had her sights set on returning to the mountain. "We took this car straight from Road America," Hayes stated, "and with a few adjustments, it was mountain ready."
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WOMEN WITH DRIVE: PIKES PEAK
Just days before the iconic race took place on Pikes Peak, and hours before the popular downtown Colorado Springs event, Fan Fest, Hayes was seated on stage as part of a panel discussing the rise of women in sport. For the first time in race history, six women were entered in the 102nd Running of the Race to the Clouds. Alongside fellow competitor, Loni Unser, as well two US Olympians, Hayes shared how lifelong encouragement from her parents, and unwavering support from her race team, have brought her up through the ranks in motorsport.
"Being a member of the panel at the Women with Drive event was truly inspiring. This is an exciting time in the industry and for all women in sport. For me personally, being able to contribute to this conversation is truly an honor."
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Hayes shared her advice for women looking to enter motorsports, "If you dedicate yourself to something you love, there’s no reason you can’t achieve big things. Outside of the race car, I’m honestly not the most confident human being ever. Inside the race car, you’re not going to stop me. Most of the work happens outside of the car, so that was an area I really had to work on. One day, I decided to take a chance on myself because I knew I could do it, and since then, I’ve become more comfortable putting myself up to a challenge that may be uncomfortable. The more you do it, the easier it gets. So take that chance, because you’ll regret it if you don’t."
Paying it forward, Hayes was quick to include a student who expressed an interest in motorsports to join her Pikes Peak crew this year. "Charlotte is a young engineering student at Purdue and boldly reached out to ask about shadowing us during race week. Not knowing any of us, and fresh from studying abroad, she arrived with an eager smile and was not afraid to get her hands dirty. She worked closely with our team and engineers, and just made a huge impression on all of us. She was a very pleasant addition to our team and we can't wait to have her back during our normal race season."
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NEW DIVISION - NEW RECORD
"We proved the new Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy division, is one of the best places to race," explained Hayes. "If you want to be pushed to the limit, not only by the mountain but by your competitors, there is no better platform to test your skills. I’m constantly impressed by our Toyota GR Supra GT4 and the spec tire we all ran, the Yokohama Advan A052. You’re only as fast as your tires and the A052 provides so much confidence and predictability when you’re tackling the road."
Speaking about her fellow competitors, Hayes shared. "Nuno (Caetano), Robb (Holland) and I were really pushing each other all week and it was so cool to see we were separated by hundredths to tenths, and only seconds on race day. I hope to be back in a GT4 next year."
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FASTEST WOMAN ON FOUR WHEELS
"Being the fastest woman on four wheels is certainly an honor that I’ll cherish for the next year," Hayes expressed. "Going into the race, the first goal was winning the GT4 division; being the fastest woman would have been a bonus. There were so many talented women drivers on the mountain this year and I’m so proud of every one of them for doing something daring, doing something they love, and proving that women belong on the mountain, too. I have a good feeling that at the 103rd, that time will be lowered. Whether it’s done by myself or someone else, it means women are breaking down barriers and accepting the challenge, and I love a good challenge!"
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Read more about Laura Hayes in a June 24 article in Forbes. | |
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Fun Facts:
"My hobbies are cycling, dirt bikes, being outdoors, and building Legos!
"I started karting at the age of 8 years old."
"My daily driver is a Mini Cooper."
Best racing advice you ever received: "The best racing advice I ever received was from Danny Sullivan. He yelled at me at a go kart competition for taking a shortcut back to the pits after the kart broke. I went the wrong direction for a split second and he was really upset. It stuck with me and taught me the importance of safety, of doing things properly, and not taking shortcuts."
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Photos by: PPIHC Archives, Larry Chen | |
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ABOUT THE PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB
First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually near the end of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s six race divisions feature a wide variety of vehicles - from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles. The current race record was set in 2018 by Romain Dumas and Volkswagen in the all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak – 07:57.148.
Contact:
Lisa Haight
Communications Manager / Historian
lisa@ppihc.org
(719) 685-4400
www.ppihc.org
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