Unstoppable F-150 LIGHTNING SUPERTRUCK CLAIMS KING OF THE MOUNTAIN AT PIKES PEAK

The Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, an electric vehicle demonstrator, triumphed at the 102nd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, clocking a time of 8:53.553, the quickest among 61 competitors.

This achievement follows closely on the heels of the truck setting a new qualifying record for the open class with a time of 3:32.831, surpassing the previous record of 3:39.939 set by the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 in 2023 by over seven seconds.

Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, praised the progress of Ford’s electric vehicles in tackling and conquering the toughest challenges. He attributed this success to the team’s hard work and dedication, and the lessons learned from SuperVan 4.2 in the previous year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

During the climb, driver Romain Dumas encountered a technical issue that brought him to a complete halt on the course. This pause added approximately 26 seconds to his initial qualifying time. However, Dumas’ quick thinking minimized the impact of the issue. He completely reset the 1,600-horsepower F-150 Lightning SuperTruck and resumed his ascent.

Dumas expressed his honor at achieving this victory with Ford Performance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. He acknowledged the unique challenges of the event, stating that it’s unlike any other form of racing as you only get one shot. An early challenge only fueled his determination to recover the lost time during the rest of the run.

The construction of the Ford Performance F-150 Lightning SuperTruck is a testament to the power of collaboration. STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development) played a pivotal role in the creation of the 1,600-horsepower truck. The SuperTruck was also fitted with top-tier Sparco racing harnesses and safety equipment, and custom Pirelli P-Zero tires, ensuring its stability on the demanding mountain roads.

“To achieve this amazing feat was no small effort,” said Sriram Pakkam, Formula 1 & high-performance EV manager, Ford Performance Motorsports. “This was a true team effort across the board from our super-talented aerodynamicists to our powertrain specialists. We also had to work as a team to sweat the details such as keeping the weight down while maximizing the downforce and I think the team did a fantastic job”.