Ford Race Electric Van – with 1,471 kW on the legendary Pikes Peak

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), also known as the "Race To The Clouds," is a legendary hill climb race for cars and motorcycles on the over 4,300-meter high granite peak in the Rocky Mountains in the US state of Colorado. The start is at an altitude of 2,862 meters. Over a race distance of 19.99 kilometers (12.42 miles), drivers must navigate 156 turns and a vertical gain of 1,440 meters. This year's date for the 101st edition of this spectacle is Sunday, June 25.

Ford Performance will compete with the all-electric SuperVan 4, which develops around 2,000 horsepower. At the wheel: 45-year-old Romain Dumas. The French motorsport icon has already secured three victories at Le Mans and has also set several records with electric vehicles. This will be Dumas' ninth appearance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb; he first participated in 2012.

“The thin air at higher altitudes limits the performance of combustion vehicles. Not so with the all-electric SuperVan 4, which delivers its power largely independent of the oxygen content and air pressure conditions at these heights," explains Dumas.

At this spectacular hill climb with 156 curves, first held in 1916, numerous Ford vehicles have participated in the past - starting with the Ford Model-T.

"The new generation of Ford electric vehicles fits perfectly with this hill climb," says Dumas. "The thin air at higher altitudes limits the performance of combustion vehicles. The fully electric SuperVan 4, on the other hand, delivers its performance largely independent of the oxygen content and air pressure conditions at these heights."

First Ford entry: Model-T in 1916

At the spectacular hill climb, first held in 1916 to make the road built as a tourist attraction to the summit of Pikes Peak known nationwide, numerous Ford vehicles have participated in the past - starting with the Ford Model-T, which reached the finish line at 4,302 meters in 28 minutes and three seconds in 1916, up to modern generation Ford Mustangs - including a Mustang Shelby GT500SE that was used in 2022.

Over the decades at Pikes Peak, several world-renowned drivers have sat behind the wheel of Ford vehicles - from Curtis Tanner and Parnelli Jones in the 1960s to the recently deceased Ken Block, who stormed Pikes Peak as part of Climbkhana. Now, the SuperVan 4 with Romain Dumas at the wheel is set to continue Ford's storied history at the PPIHC and establish a new record for electric vehicles.

“The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the perfect next step for Ford Performance and the ideal challenge for the all-electric SuperVan 4. Both the race itself and Ford race vehicles have a long tradition that has fueled the imagination of racing fans around the world," says Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. "Additionally, it is time to let our all-electric drive technology compete in demanding competitions like this against performance vehicles from other manufacturers."

SuperVan 4: Four Electric Motors, Around 2,000 HP

With the SuperVan 4, Ford is opening a new chapter in the long and legendary history of its spectacular Ford Transit showcars: Four electric motors, a liquid-cooled 50-kWh battery, and a custom drive management system enable a maximum peak power of around 2,000 HP and acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in two seconds. Other features include a carbon fiber composite body, a roll cage according to FIA regulations, and a regenerative braking system.