The 90th running of the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is just two months away and things are starting to really heat up. The field is stacking up to be one of the most elaborate and diverse in many years.
Hill Climb officials announced last week that accomplished female off-road star Beccy Gordon will challenge Japan’s Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima in the Electric Division. Gordon is the 33-year-old sister of Indy and NASCAR star Robby Gordon.
Beccy Gordon will battle Tajima behind the wheel of a 2012 Mitsubishi Motors i-MiEV. The car is based on MMC’s all-electric i-MiEV model, the first 100 percent electric vehicle to go into mass production and already on the road in Japan, Europe and North America.
“I’m really looking forward to driving the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb competition this year,” Gordon said in a statement. “I am very excited to be part of this challenge and also to drive a 100 percent electric-powered car since this type of vehicle will likely play a major role in both our daily transportation and motorsports in the future.”
Gordon comes from a family with a rich history in auto racing. Robby had a distinguished career in Indy, NASCAR and off-road racing. Beccy’s sister, Robyn, is the first woman to score an overall win in the prestigious Baja 1000. Her father, Bob, was a longtime star in off-road racing, and great-grandfather Huntley was an Indy car driver in the early 1900s.
Beccy’s husband, Ryan Hunter-Reay, is currently a driver for Andretti Autosport in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
Beccy formed All-American Girl Racing in 2006 and became the part of the only all-female team to compete in the Baja 1000, with a pair of SCORE Off Road wins. She is a spokesperson for NASCAR, a pit reporter, and a swimsuit model who has also shown for Ralph Lauren, Speedo and Victoria’s Secret.
Tajima announced last month that he is leaving the Unlimited Division to join the Electric Division as this year’s July 8 event will mark the first time in history that the entire road is paved. Tajima shattered the course record last year when he became the first driver in the history of the race to record a time under 10 minutes {9:51.278).
The electric car field also includes three other high profile Japanese racing stars; defending class champion Ikuo Hanawa, Hiroshi Masuoka (also driving the Mitsubishi i-MiEV), and Fumio Nutahara. Masuoka has tackled Dakar 21 times, winning it in 2002 and 2003, while Nutahara was the 2006 Monte Carlo rally.
Tajima said the move to the Electric Division made sense.
“Japan has the highest level of technology development in electric and hybrid cars, so the switch to an electric vehicle has been welcomed with huge excitement and expectation,” he told emotorsports.com. “We could also welcome some great new partners from this new field, such as latest lithium battery developer Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and the well-known educational company, Benesse.”
Hill Climb officials also announced that the famed brother and sister team of Robby and Jeri Unser will not be driving the proposed Zero E project electrics as previously announced. Other commitments will keep them from attending the Hill Climb. Bobby Unser, Jr., still plans on making his return to the Hill Climb and running in the Electric Division.
nationalscott posted at 5:44 pm on Tue, May 15, 2012.
I am new to the site as Dean Link told me I can submit info on a football book I have written. Imagine my surprise to see a Hill Climb mention as one of the first stories I see.
I love auto racing as much as pro football and I know we in Colorado take for granted the fact we have one of the most historic racing events in the world let alone country.
Have only been there for one race as I worked with PR person for the Donner team. Would like to make this upcoming event and be there for 1st ever paved course. Thanks Danny for taking the time to give the event some love! You created a great first impression of the news site.