Former FWD Pikes Peak Record Holder Wins In A RWD Car

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) is an uphill battle like no other in motorsport. There’s a reason why automakers, builders, drivers, and enthusiasts have been testing their vehicles and themselves on this Colorado 14er since 1916. It’s called madness. Yet, despite failures, disappointments, and even death, they return. Not to do so would be a disservice to those who came before. And who would say no to another chance at triumph if the opportunity presented itself? Robb Holland said yes every chance he got, and on the eighth attempt, he conquered the Race to the Clouds.

Holland’s first taste of Pikes Peak came in 2016. Behind the wheel of an Audi TT RS, he set the front-wheel drive record on his debut drive. Holland’s been addicted ever since. As for the risks, of which there are plenty in motorsport, Holland says the lack of safeguards at Pikes Peak, like run-off areas and safety barriers, actually forces you to be more aware and a better driver for it.

“I don’t consider myself a risk taker,” said Holland during a text exchange. “But Pikes Peak is so much more of a challenge as a driver because the penalty for making a mistake is higher. Modern racetracks are a bit sanitary, and there’s not much penalty for getting it wrong.”

Ergo, continue to push the envelope, but not to the point you push yourself off the mountain. Holland is a four-time competitor in the PPIHC Time Attack 1 (TA1) division, and piloted a HELLA-sponsored 2022 Porsche 911 Porsche GT3 Cup car for this year’s time trial. 

And, go figure, the race course was shortened this year as a safety precaution, according to a press release. Strong winds at the summit proved too dangerous, which makes sense considering how lightweight these hillclimb racers can be. No matter because Holland was quick, regardless.

With a time of 4:24.478, he topped the division to earn his first-ever Pikes Peak win. You can watch his POV video here. Said Holland:

“I’m super excited to win the class. It’s really tough competition, especially running a normally-aspirated car versus all the turbos with several times our power.” 

Although Holland set a hillclimb record with a FWD car, he won his class with a rear-wheel drive vehicle. In fact, during Holland’s eight Pikes Peak runs, he’s driven a variety of drive configurations. In addition to the aforementioned cars, Holland’s hillclimb list includes an all-wheel-drive Audi (tested, but he didn’t get to run because fires delayed the race so much that it conflicted with his BTCC debut) and two other RWD racers: a Chevy Corvette and the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Having tried a little bit of everything, Holland said:

“FWD is really bad in the hairpins but very, very stable through the high-speed corners. RWD allows you to rotate the car in the hairpins and gets good acceleration off of the corners, but it is a bit more nervous through the high-speed stuff.”

Keep in mind that TA1 is one of two divisions that highlight production cars, but restricts mods, unlike the Pikes Peak Open category, where essentially anything goes except for the vehicle’s from-the-factory likeness. Per the rule book, the number of allowances pales in comparison to the list of restrictions:

“This division is for production-based two-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles. Time Attack 1 vehicles must maintain their original OVM configuration as delivered as pertains to specifications for the air/fuel delivery system, number of cylinders, number of drive wheels and drive wheel location.”

Engines can be tuned, for example, but definitely no LS swaps where V6s and four-bangers live. Also, TA1 vehicles must be unibody (“no tube frame or ‘body on frame’ vehicles allowed”). Aftermarket exterior bits are given the go-ahead, but the car’s make and model must remain recognizable. Hmm, sounds like SEMA builds are more modified than a Pikes Peak time attack car.

But this is where engineering genius comes into play. If you can’t change the meat and potatoes, what spices can you use to increase the flavor? Competitors love this. “I like the rules for TA1,” said Holland. “It gives competitors a chance to be competitive without spending a ton.”

And winning is all the sweeter knowing you did so with a build that can be replicated in a driveway. You’ll still have to spend some money, of course, but hopefully not “a ton.” Now that he has a hillclimb trophy to add to the display case, I asked Holland if his Pikes Peak bucket list is complete. “I’ll stop doing Pikes Peak when they take the keys from me,” said Holland. I see no wrong answers here.

Below are some more viewpoints of his various trips on in different cars:

Top graphic images: Miles Tillman; Hella via Facebook (inset)