Astrophysicist returns to Pikes Peak to defend race record

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) said a retired astrophysicist, who also holds the record for the fastest woman to ever race a car in the event, will return for the 2024 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

PPIHC said Kathryn Mead started auto racing at the age of 51 after a career in academics, and she first heard of Pikes Peak as a runner for the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.

After starting her racing career she learned of the opportunity to race up the mountain and thought it was crazy and not something she would do. However, when the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division was created, and her car fit the profile, she knew she had to try.

Mead wanted to visit in early April 2020, but her plans were scrapped due to the pandemic. So, she started practicing in a driving simulator and spent hours watching onboard videos at home. The first time she drove on Pikes Peak was in August of 2020, and despite all the difficulties of that year, she placed third in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy race and earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Mead placed third again in 2021, and in 2022 was able to reach the summit despite fog, rain, and snow covering the mountain. In 2023, she set a race time of 10:53.074, which beat the previous record of 10:54.901 set by Vanina Ickx in 2018.

Mead is second only to Lucy Glockner who set a time of 9:58.878 on a motorcycle.

When asked what draws her to Pikes Peak, Mead said, “It’s the people and it’s the pictures. It’s because this race is so hard. Yet, I get to drive up a mountain road closed just for me. It’s transcendent, even meditative.”

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