SANTA ANA, CA – Yokohama Tire and its auto manufacturing partners are ready to roll at the 102nd Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The tiremaker has totally dominated the Pikes Peak field the last two years on ADVAN® tires: two overall championships, 20 podium finishes and nine division wins. This year, Yokohama is joining forces with Honda/Acura in their two-car effort along with Hyundai in their return to the mountain. In total, Yokohama will field 14 drivers in multiple divisions during the iconic 12.42-mile “Race to the Clouds,” which takes place June 23 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Robin Shute, a Team Yokohama driver who won the overall championship the last two years (and four total), is going electric this time. He will pilot one of the newly announced Hyundai IONIQ 5N TA modified cars in the Exhibition class. Spaniard Dani Sordo, who competes in the World Rally Championship for Hyundai, is driving the other IONIQ 5N TA. Both will attempt to earn the Electric Production SUV/Crossover record on ADVAN A005 racing slicks.
“It’s been fun working with Hyundai, Bryan Herta Autosport and their driver lineup,” said Patricia Wall, Yokohama’s motorsports senior manager. “Shute brings a lot of mountain experience to the team, Sordo was quick straight out of the gate and Pikes Peak rookie Ron Zaras, who will be driving a production IONIQ 5N fitted with ADVAN Sport® V107 tires in the Exhibition class, has been chipping away at his times each day as he gains confidence on the mountain.”
Wall added that this will be the second consecutive year working with the Honda/Acura/HART/HRC teams. Paul Hubers will drive a 2023 Acura Integra Tech A-Spec wrapped in historic ADVAN livery on A005 racing slicks in the Pikes Peak Open class. The car will be prepared by HART (Honda of America Racing Team), a Honda employee-led team. Three-time Indy 500 starter Katherine Legge will pilot a 2024 Acura Integra Type S DE5 on ADVAN A005™ tires in the Time Attack 1 class.
Yokohama also returns as the exclusive tire supplier of the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama division (formerly the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama) for the seventh straight year. New for 2024, the GT4 class has opened up to all manufacturers of GT4s, including Porsche, Ford and Toyota. All vehicles will be competing on ADVAN A052® tires. The field includes Robb Holland and Nuno Caetano in Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport, Chris Becker in a Ford Mustang GT4 and Laura Hayes in a Toyota GR Supra GT4.
“We have a long history with Porsche in the GT4 class but are excited to welcome Ford and Toyota to the mix,” added Wall.
Hayes, Legge and Team Yokohama member Loni Unser are part of Yokohama’s ongoing efforts to support female drivers. Unser returns for the third time to Pikes Peak, where she’ll compete in the Pikes Peak Open class in a Porsche GT3 Turbo Cup car fitted with A005s.
Both Unser and Hayes were part of the Yokohama-sponsored Women in Motorsports North America’s (WIMNA) “Women with Drive” event on Friday, June 21 at the USOC Olympic and Paralympic Museum. A moderated panel included Unser and Hayes, as well as two female Olympians/Paralympians.
“We’ve achieved unprecedented success the past two years on the mountain thanks to our manufacturer partnerships, the drivers, the vehicles and our ADVAN tires,” said Wall. “Pikes Peak presents so many difficult scenarios, it’s gratifying to see the ADVAN tires continually proving they can handle any racing condition and win.”
Another notable Yokohama driver is David Donohue, who is also going for a third straight win. The 2022 and 2023 Time Attack 1 champ and current record-holder returns with the 2022 class-winning car, a 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo R racing on A005s.
Yokohama also participated again in Fan Fest on June 21 in downtown Colorado Springs, where 40,000-plus fans congregate. At the Yokohama display, there was a meet-and-greet with drivers, cool cars on display and more.
Along with the Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama, Yokohama’s extensive list of 2024 North American-based motorsports activities – both on- and off-road – includes Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Nitrocross, King of the Hammers, Yokohama NORRA Mexican 1000, Crandon International Raceway sponsorship, Ultra4 USA, TrophyLite Series and the Championship Off-Road Series partnership.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, and commercial truck and bus. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com and www.yokohamatruck.com.
Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tires 101” section at www.yokohamatire.com.
- By Bill Groak/Sweet Spot Media
