· The Ford Performance F-150 Lightning SuperTruck made the fastest pass of all 61 competitors at the 102^nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

· Romain Dumas piloted the Electric Vehicle demonstrator up America’s Mountain with a time of 8:53.553.

· This is the second time Ford Performance found success with an EV Demonstrator at the event after debuting SuperVan 4.2 in the 2023 Hill Climb event.

PIKES PEAK, Color. – Today the Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck EV Demonstrator found success at the 102nd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a time of eight minutes and fifty-three seconds, claiming fastest on the mountain overall at the 2024 event.

This comes just days after setting a new qualifying record for the Open Class with a time of 3:32.831, over seven seconds faster than the previous record of 3:39.939 set by the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 in 2023.

The achievement was hard-earned by driver Romain Dumas, after experiencing a technical issue and coming to a complete stop on course. The stop added a delay of around 26 seconds over his initial qualifying time, but quick thinking from Dumas helped to minimize the issue. The Frenchman was able to complete a full reset of SuperTruck quickly, and continue his climb, pushing more aggressively than ever to still claim the top spot of all 61 competitors.

“The progression of Ford EV’s taking on and completing the toughest challenges is a major testament to the hard work and dedication our teams have put into the program” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “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 onwards and upwards from here.”

Romain Dumas, the overall record holder for the Race to the Clouds and expert in pushing Ford’s electric vehicle demonstrators to the very limit, piloted the 1,600hp F-150 Lightning SuperTruck. “I’m honored to achieve this victory with Ford Performance at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” said Dumas “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 the lost time in the rest of the run.”

The construction of the Ford Performance F-150 Lightning EV Demonstrator was a testament to the power of collaboration. STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development) played a crucial role in helping create the 1600+ horsepower Electric Demonstrator. SuperTruck was also equipped with top-of-the-line Sparco racing harnesses and safety equipment and bespoke Pirelli P-Zero tires, ensuring its stability on the challenging mountain roads. 

“To achieve this amazing feat was no small effort,” said Sriram Pakkam, Formula 1 & High-Performance EV Manager, Ford Performance Motorsports. “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.’

This debut appearance of SuperTruck is just the beginning. Stay tuned to see where in the world this F-150 Lightning EV Demonstrator will appear next.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.  The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty.  Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services.  The company does that through three customer-centered business segments:  Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs.  Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.  Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide.  More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance

Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford's racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing's activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

About STARD

STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development and part of Stohl Group GmbH), founded by CEO Michael Sakowicz, is a research and development specialist company developing high performance automotive, motorsport and advanced technologies, part of Stohl Group GmbH, founded in 2002 by owner and former rally world champion. For over a decade, STARD has focused its research and development activities on comprehensive EV powertrain system and component development for motorsport, high performance applications and entire vehicle development. Today, STARD is among the leading pioneers for high quality all electric motorsport solutions including FIA certified battery systems, turnkey powertrains and vehicles. More information is available at www.stard.at.

About Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

First staged in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest race in America. The invitation-only event, often referred to as The Race to the Clouds is held annually on the last Sunday of June on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The famous 12.42-mile (20 km) course consists of 156 turns, boasts an elevation gain of 4,725 feet (1,440 m), and reaches a finish line at 14,115 feet (4,302 m) above sea level. The PPIHC’s six race divisions feature a wide variety of vehicles - from production-based Time Attack challengers to purpose-built Open Wheel racers and state-of-the-art Unlimited vehicles.