<P> For hill - climb events and this event in particular it is reasonable to suggest that a modern, well designed electric car will be at an advantage over internal combustion engined cars . The issue of limited range does not apply to short sprints and the twisty nature of the Pikes Peak course lends itself well to the almost instant torque delivery of electric motors . In addition to this, the lowering air density of high altitudes does not reduce the power available to the driver as it does with air breathing engines . </P> <P> Although the 2014 event was won by a gasoline powered car; second (Greg Tracy), third (Hiroshi Masuoka) and fourth (Nobuhiro Tajima) places overall were taken by electric cars . In 2015, electric cars placed first (Rhys Millen) and second (Nobuhiro Tajima) overall . In an interview with Rhys Millen, he said that he had lost power to the car's rear motor pack before the halfway point . Had this not happened he had expected his run to be 30 seconds faster . In 2016 gasoline again took top honours but electric completed the podium taking second (Rhys Millen) and third (Tetsuya Yamano) as well as fifth (Nobuhiro Tajima) places overall . </P> <P> At the 2018 event, an electric car set a new overall record for the first time in the event's history . Frenchman Romain Dumas completed the course in the all - electric Volkswagen I.D. R with a time of 7: 57.148 . </P> <P> The Pikes Peak International Hill climb consists of seven divisions incorporating twelve classes for both cars and motorcycles . An additional four special record classes consisting of former classes are defined in the appendix . </P>

Who won the pikes peak hill climb this year