Hyundai has powered its way to a class win at the 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with Evasive Motorsports and driver Robert Walker securing first place in the Exhibition division behind the wheel of a specially-prepared IONIQ 5 N.
Despite extreme weather and a drastically shortened course, the electric SUV completed the run in 4:23.858 — a standout result under difficult conditions.
The annual “Race to the Clouds” was cut nearly in half after race officials deemed the upper section of the 4302m mountain too dangerous due to sustained winds of up to 100 miles per hour (160km/h). The finish line was moved down to Glen Cove, reducing the challenge but doing nothing to dampen the intensity of the competition.
Based on the road-going IONIQ 5 N, some of the race-ready modifications include Moton coilovers, a full roll cage, carbon fibre aero enhancements, and sticky Yokohama slicks. The car also ran with a set of 19-inch forged wheels, massive brakes, and a race-spec Sparco seat to keep the driver firmly planted through the fast and twisting mountain sprint.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N in standard form is already known for blending high-performance EV credentials with daily usability. The Pikes Peak effort showcases the model’s engineering strengths in extreme environments, and marks another step in Hyundai’s growing motorsport ambitions.
And it proves EVs can be fun and engaging, to the point of actually competing successfully on the world stage. A specially-prepared IONIQ 5 N recently set a lap record at Tsukuba Circuit.
