Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck Conquers Pikes Peak With Record Time

Published: Monday, June 24, 2024, 23:54 [IST]

The Ford Performance F-150 Lightning SuperTruck achieved the fastest time among 61 competitors at the 102nd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Romain Dumas drove the electric vehicle demonstrator up America’s Mountain in 8:53.553. This marks the second consecutive year Ford Performance has succeeded with an electric vehicle at Pikes Peak, following the SuperVan 4.2 in 2023.

This year's success came just days after the truck set a new qualifying record for the open class with a time of 3:32.831, surpassing the previous record of 3:39.939 set by the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 in 2023 by more than seven seconds.

Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, highlighted the significance of this achievement. "The progression of Ford electric vehicles taking on and completing the toughest challenges is a major testament to the hard work and dedication our teams have put into the program," he said. "We learned a great deal from SuperVan 4.2 in last year’s Pikes Peak International Hill climb and were able to apply that knowledge to this year’s run. It’s onward and upward from here."

Driver Romain Dumas faced a technical issue during his climb, which caused him to stop completely on the course. This added about 26 seconds compared to his initial qualifying time. However, Dumas quickly reset the 1,600-horsepower F-150 Lightning SuperTruck and continued his ascent.

The construction of the Ford Performance F-150 Lightning SuperTruck was a collaborative effort involving STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development). The truck was equipped with Sparco racing harnesses, safety equipment, and bespoke Pirelli P-Zero tires to ensure stability on challenging mountain roads.

Sriram Pakkam, Formula 1 & high-performance EV manager at Ford Performance Motorsports, praised the team's efforts: "To achieve this amazing feat was no small effort," he said. "This was a true team effort across the board from our super-talented aerodynamicists to our powertrain specialists. We also had to work as a team to sweat the details such as keeping the weight down while maximizing the downforce and I think the team did a fantastic job."

Dumas expressed his pride in achieving victory with Ford Performance at Pikes Peak: "I’m honored to achieve this victory with Ford Performance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb," he said. "Everything about this event is a challenge because it is unlike any other form of racing; you only have one shot. We faced a challenge early on but that only gave me more determination to make up for lost time in the rest of the run."

Ford Motor Company's Vision

Ford Motor Company, based in Dearborn, Michigan, aims to build a better world where everyone can move freely and pursue their dreams. The company's Ford+ plan combines existing strengths with new capabilities to enhance customer experiences and loyalty.

Ford develops trucks, SUVs, commercial vans, cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles along with connected services through three business segments: Ford Blue for gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e for breakthrough EVs; and Ford Pro for commercial customers' needs.

Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and employs about 176,000 people worldwide.

The recent achievements at Pikes Peak underscore Ford's commitment to innovation and excellence in electric vehicle performance.