Veteran racer Katherine Legge has driven nearly every type of race car imaginable—from IndyCars and NASCARs to the experimental DeltaWing. But the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb continues to push her limits like no other event.
After making her debut in 2024, Legge returned in 2025 behind the wheel of an Acura Integra Type S DE5, a front-wheel-drive race car with a 360-horsepower turbocharged engine and sequential gearbox. Her goal? Break the front-wheel-drive record on one of the world’s most dangerous motorsport courses.
A Lifelong Dream to Climb the Mountain
Legge first dreamt of racing up the 14,115-foot summit when she arrived in the U.S. over 20 years ago. But the event’s June schedule often conflicted with her packed racing calendar. In 2024, she finally got the chance—thanks to her longstanding relationship with Acura and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).
“They gave me the opportunity, and I said, yes, please—I’ll do it,” Legge recalled.
Preparing Without Simulators: “Old School” Learning
Unlike IndyCar’s advanced simulators, Pikes Peak offers no virtual tools for practice. Legge trained the old-school way—watching countless hours of onboard footage.
“I watched video over and over again, rewinding and going again for hours,” she said.
With 156 turns across 12.42 miles of treacherous mountain road, Legge had to memorize the course using unconventional landmarks—snow stakes, boulders, and even portable toilets.
“I’m like, ‘Okay, hug the mountain after the portaloo,’” she joked.
Limited Practice, Maximum Pressure
Drivers only get to practice in segments before race day. The mountain is divided into three sections, and racers never run the entire route until the actual event.
“You only ever do the full course once—on race day,” Legge explained.
Compounding the challenge, Legge had very little time in the car. Apart from a single test session at High Plains Raceway and a brief shakedown, she drove the Integra DE5 primarily during the event itself.
Mastering Front-Wheel Drive
Legge is used to rear-wheel-drive race cars like the Acura NSX GT3 and IndyCars. Racing a front-wheel-drive machine at high altitude was a new challenge.
“At the end of the day, it’s just a race car,” she said. “You drive it differently, but almost subconsciously, you know what the car needs.”
Despite the unfamiliar setup, her rookie 2024 run came within seconds of the class record, proving her adaptability and driving prowess.
Battling Altitude, Weather, and Power Loss
Altitude sickness isn’t the only concern at Pikes Peak. The thin air at over 14,000 feet also robs cars of power. Legge prepared her body by hiking and racing in Mexico City between test sessions.
“The engine gasps for air at the top,” she noted. “It’s super greasy and super boggy.”
Temperature swings and early morning practice runs added more complexity. Tire pressure, engine response, and grip all shift dramatically from base to summit.
A Record Within Reach—Cut Short by Weather
Legge’s 2025 run was cut short due to high winds at the summit. Race organizers limited the event to just two sectors, stopping her from completing the full climb.
“We were five or six seconds ahead halfway up,” Legge said. “We could’ve crushed the front-wheel-drive record.”
Even so, she remains proud of the car and team’s progress. Acura and HRC improved tire grip and engine performance over the past year—setting the stage for a stronger future attempt.
Unfinished Business at Pikes Peak
With no full run this year, Legge isn’t done with the mountain yet.
“It’s never nice to have unfinished business,” she admitted. “But that’s the nature of the mountain—and racing.”
If the stars align, expect Katherine Legge to return in 2026, chasing that record once more with Acura at her side.
