Porsche Driver Kathy Mead on the Unique Demands of Pikes Peak Hill Climb
For Porsche driver Kathy Mead, conquering Pikes Peak is about a year of preparation, a month on the mountain, and a 10-and-a-half-minute run where perfection is impossible.
- 19.99 km
- 156
- 14,115 ft (4,302 m)
What Happened
Pikes Peak Highway is a 19.99-kilometer course climbing from forest to above the tree line, with 156 turns to the 14,115-foot summit. Driver Kathy Mead describes it as "three different courses in one": the lower section with off-camber entries, the middle section of switchbacks and hard braking zones, and the upper section where the road is fast, bumpy, and exposed with sheer drops. Preparation involves up to 10 days on the mountain.
“At Pikes Peak, I can’t find the limit by going past it. I have to nibble up a little bit at a time.”
19.99 km
One-way, with 156 turns and a 14,115-foot summit.
Why this matters
Pikes Peak is one of motorsport's most grueling events, testing both driver and car with high altitude, 156 turns, and zero margin for error. Mead's experience shows why forced induction and reliability are key.
Terms in This Story
- Hill climb
- A motorsport event where drivers race individually against the clock up a steep, winding road.
- Forced induction
- A method of increasing engine power by forcing more air into the combustion chamber, typically using a turbocharger or supercharger.
- Switchbacks
- Sharp, hairpin turns that reverse direction on a steep incline.
- Off-camber
- A corner where the road surface slopes away from the direction of the turn, reducing traction.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.