Women on the Mountain: Pikes Peak 2025
- Arantza Asali
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Since 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been one of motorsport’s most gruelling timed hill climbs. “The Race to the Clouds” is the second oldest motorsport race in the United States, and as is often the case with races, in early decades, drivers were nearly all-male. But pioneering women like Terry Ives, who made the first sports car climb in 1962; and Michèle Mouton, “the flying Frenchwoman” and first champion of the female division, have helped pave the way to 2025.
This year, on June 22nd, six women will take on the mountain, marking it the second year we’ve seen such a large female contingent at Pikes Peak. Here are their names and stories:
Katherine Legge
Veteran racer Katherine Legge, currently piloting the #93 Acura Integra Type S for Honda Racing Corporation, returns to Pikes Peak’s Time Attack 1 class. Legge first tackled the mountain in 2024 and earned a top-five finish in her debut, clocking in a time of 10:51:359 - just seconds behind the front-wheel-drive record.
Born in the UK and based in Georgia, she’s one of the most versatile drivers in modern motorsport, having competed across IndyCar, IMSA, NASCAR, and Formula E. Her return brings factory-level backing and an impressive professional pedigree to this year’s race.
Ryan Cheek
Joining Katherine is Ryan Cheek, who built her reputation in the Time Attack competition. Ryan will be strapping in behind the wheel of her 2021 American X Kart Cross Kart in the Open Wheel division.
A native to Colorado Springs, her climb up the ranks reflects a growing wave of women following their motorsport passion. Ryan has been an ambassador for Racing for ALS since 2021, and is already bringing up the next generation of female racers by guiding her daughter on her own motorsport journey.
Loni Unser
Carrying one of the most iconic surnames in American motorsport, Loni Unser returns to Pikes Peak in 2025 to add her mark to her family’s racing history. She will compete in the Trophy by Yokohama division, in a Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the same car she raced in 2024.
Her racing journey began in endurance events, working her way through the ranks of IMSA-sanctioned series and club racing with a focus on consistency, technical feedback, and mental performance. She has competed in the World Racing League, MX-5 Cup, and GT4 America, blending her family’s legacy with a grounded, grassroots climb of her own.
Kathryn Meade
Santa Fe-based racer Kathryn Meade brings intellect to the mountain and proves that it’s never too late to pursue speed. After a successful career as a college professor in physics and astronomy, she began racing in her early 50s and made her Pikes Peak debut in 2020. Since then, she’s become a regular in the Time Attack 1 division, driving a Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
In 2023, she clocked a personal best of 10:53.074, making her the fastest woman ever on four wheels at Pikes Peak at the time. Her racing approach blends her analytical and scientific background with gut feel. She returns in 2025, once again demonstrating that age is not a limitation for those who love motorsport and are willing to work for it.
Emelia Hartford
Emelia Hartford brings real racing credentials to her Pikes Peak campaign, with a background in time attack, drag racing, and road course competition. Youtube car-builder and presenter turned pro racer, she made her name building and piloting one of the world’s fastest Chevrolet C8 Corvettes, in which she set a then-record quarter-mile time of 9:36 seconds. Her transition to competitive motorsport began with grassroots events, including SCCA time trials and track days, and has now evolved into full competitions.
At Pikes Peak, Hartford is competing in the Time Attack 1 division, driving a modified mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette, developed in partnership with her technical team and sponsors. Her 2024 entry marked her debut on the mountain, where she earned praise for her driving and role in preparing the car. She returns in 2025 with upgrades to the car’s aero and chassis setup, serving as a trailblazer by merging mechanics and driving in a single motorsport career.
Tracy Gaudu
Tracy Gaudu will make her Pikes Peak debut this June, driving a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in the Exhibition division. She’s a seasoned autocrosser turned road racer, who earned her NASA Time Trial license in 2016 and began wheel-to-wheel competition by 2021. Tracy has regularly raced in the Super Unlimited class since then, always in her Corvette - a car she’s developed personally. Tracy performs much of the mechanical prep herself.
Alongside racing, she balances a career as a physician assistant and has a background in the U.S. Air Force. Her journey from local autocross events to one of the world’s most demanding hill climbs is powered by community - she’s known for mentoring other women in motorsport and building connections across paddocks. In 2025, she will take on America’s Mountain as both competitor and role model.
Join the Ascent!
You don’t need to be at the summit to feel the rush. Tune in on June 22, 2025, to witness these drivers blaze up the mountain. Watch live coverage via the official PPIHC website, which offers real‑time timing, driver cams, and highlights, and connect with Katherine, Ryan, Loni, Kathryn, Tracy and Emelia on social media for behind-the-scenes insights and racer stories.