The Best Cars From The 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

I've never really been much of a motorsports fan. There's no particular reason for this, but it's just never really been my thing. However, that's all changed now. I was lucky enough to spend about five days covering the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb near Colorado Springs this year, and let me tell you, it was wonderful.

Everyone participating in the Hill Climb had just one goal: get to the top of this stupidly-tall mountain as quickly as possible. But, that's where the similarities between teams really ended. Everyone has a different way of going about it.

Because Pikes Peak doesn't have very many rules for the type of cars going up the mountain, there are all kinds of cars there. We've got everything from open-wheel hill climb specials, to purpose built race cars and nearly-stock vehicles. Gas, diesel, electric, it doesn't matter. It leads to a really epic spectacle, and that's why we're about to take a look at the coolest stuff I saw at Pikes Peak this year.

Full Disclosure: The Alpine Pikes Peak team flew me out the the event, fed me, provided transportation and put me up in a hotel. I learned a lot about the French during my weekend in Colorado.

Also, for the love of God I know I'm not a motorsport photographer. I did my best. Leave me be. Oh, and just a note: there's no order to these pictures. Don't try to come up with one.

Driver: Michael Whiddett

Time: 10:34.980

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 23/5

The four rotor Mazda worked well enough to get up the hill in just 10:35, but sadly it had to be pulled back down. This thing also sounds like the world is dying. Perfection.

Driver: Clint Vahsholtz

Time: DNF :/

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 63/11

This KTM X-Bow is more serious than I'll ever be.

Driver: Dan Oberg

Time: 11:58.496

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 51/12

The way this thing was smoking on the parade back down the hill was unbelievable. Once a Volkswagen, always a Volkswagen.

If anyone points out that the 911 is a post-facelift 996, and therefore made after the '90s, I will block you.

Driver: Jeff Zwart

Time: 9:46.131

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 9/2

Jeff Zwart doesn't mess around, and neither does his 935.

Driver: Satoshi Yagi

Time: 12:33.959

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 54/13

The owner of this Toyota Starlet has quite the story. Basically, he lives in Japan and this is his track car. He's always wanted to do Pikes Peak, so he had it shipped over to America, tuned at a local Mitsubishi EVO shop, and took part in the race. How goddamn sick is that?

Driver: Daijiro Yoshihara

Time: DNF :/

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 61/15

This S2000 started well, but unfortunately couldn't finish the race. Alas.

Driver: Kevin Murdock

Time: 11:11.399

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 40/10

This tube-framed monument to American excellence sounded like thunder and went like hell. I'm also very embarrassed to say that the 3rd generation Camaro is starting to grow on me. I am becoming a burn out Gen-Xer, I fear.

Driver: David Hackl

Time: 11:02.176

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 33/8

It was only in the mid-30s when I took this picture near Devil's Playground, but the Quattro kept me warm. Thank you for your service, Audi.

Driver: Cole Powelson

Time: 11:06.535

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 37/8

Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a Nissan GTR with a Powerstroke diesel engine under the hood. God is good.

Driver: Romain Dumas

Time: 8:47.682

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 2/1

The Ford Performance team decided to use a European siren noise to let people know it was coming. I would have gone with an ice cream van song, but that's just me.

Driver: Gardner Nichols

Time: 11:23.983

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 46/8

It's unbelievable to me that a mostly stock Rivian is this fast. Also, look at that squat.

Driver: Clint Vahsholtz

Time: 9:18.053

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 4/1

They're gonna need to put the wheels on if they want to lay down a respectable time.

Driver: Scot Birdsall

Time: DNF :/

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 60/10

RIP in peace Old Smokey. You may be 74 years old, but you were still too young to go. I hope you're blasting diesel fumes at the big hill climb in the sky.

Driver: Tyler Pappas

Time: 11:14.996

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 43/7

E90 M3s have a special place in my heart, and this one is even more special than most. I mean, just look at it.

Driver: Lucy Block

Time: 11:25.315

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 47/10

Ken Block's wife, Lucy, joined their daughter in driving at Pikes Peak this year. This little electric thing was really moving, too.

Driver: Scott Knott (cool name)

Time: DNF :/

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 60/10

It looked good going up the hill, but sadly not too great going back down.

Driver: James Clay

Time: 9:20.433

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 6/3

This thing has 1,400 horsepower. believe it or not, there's a BMW E36 buried under there. What a machine.

Driver: Tanner Foust

Time: 9:37.326

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 8/1

First in class for Tanner Foust in his very pretty Radford. Not a bad day.

How can you not be romantic about Pikes Peak?

Last minute preparations from the Alpine team after practice on Friday make sure the car is ready to go on Sunday.

Driver: Don Wickstrum

Time: 10:00.297

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 13/4

This car feels so Miami, it's actually wild. I love it, even if it wasn't that fast. Okay, I guess 10 minutes is mighty impressive. You've got me there.

The pits at Pikes Peak may be one of the sickest places on earth. The access that fans are given at this event is amazing. Not many other races will let you get this close to the cars.

Driver: Randy Pobst

Time: 9:54.901

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 10/2

Randy Pobst's Tesla two things: blisteringly quick and a wonderful place to sit.

Driver: Raphael Astier

Time: 9:17.412

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 3/2

The Alpine was by far and away the shiniest car on the grid this weekend. Now, we just need to work on getting the automaker selling the A110 in America.

Driver: Duncan Cowper

Time: 9:57.072

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 12/3

These drivers are braver than the troops, I swear to God.

Driver: Raymund Guerrero

Time: 13.40.373

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 57/9

This Viper may have sounded and looked amazing, but it was also by far the slowest car to finish at 13:40, nearly 37 seconds slower than the next competitor. That being said, it did finish, which is more than nine other entrants can say.

The four rotor Mazda was loud enough to drown out the helicopter above, unlike just about everything else on the grid.

Driver: Steve Goeglein

Time: 11:02.742

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 34/7

This Camaro sounded absolutely monsterous. I swore I could hear it from miles away once it had passed.

Driver: Ben Ryan

Time: 13:04.890

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 56/8

This little guy laid one of the longest front-wheel-drive burnouts I've ever seen during Friday morning's practice session.

The Alpine team enjoying some much deserved beers after finish second in class and third overall at their first ever Pikes Peak. Not pictured: all of the cigarettes they smoked.

Driver: Robert Prilika

Time: 13:03.579

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 55/11

13 and a bit minutes up Pikes Peak in a goddamn pickup truck is wild.

Driver: Robin Shute

Time: 8:40.080

Placed (Overall/In-Class): 1/1

This right here is Robin Shute's 2018 Wolf TSC-FS. It set the fastest time of the day at just 8:40. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I was able to capture of the car. It was literally too fast for my camera.

Lia Block drove her late father, Ken Block's, Hoonipigasus up Pikes Peak in an untimed, exhibition run. It was honestly a very touching moment for everyone in attendance, and even though it was untimed, she still drove like a bat out of hell. With 1,400-hp at the disposal of her right foot, I wish I even had 1/100th of this sort of talent at 16 years old.

Ken Block drove this car at Pikes last year, but wasn't able to finish due to mechanical issues.

Despite the fact Lucy Block's car was not being timed up the hill, it still garnered the most attention out of everyone else at the race. Simply beautiful.