On Sunday, Rivian Sr. Performance Test Engineer, Gardner Nichols, set a new production truck record racing his R1T up Pikes Peak.
With the exception of race day the road up to the summit functions as a toll road - featuring 156 turns and climbing over 4,000 feet.
Merging a lifelong passion for motorsports with his career, Gardner reached a pinnacle this weekend as he navigated the challenging race to the clouds.
Watch the live broadcast of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb here.
How did you end up racing a Rivian at Pikes Peak?
Gardner: I grew up nearby — my dad and I would go up to the mountain at 4am as spectators during practice days. I met my current director at Rivian while working on a Pikes Peak team when I was a teenager, the stars seemed to align getting this whole effort together. I figured if anyone was going to compete at Pikes Peak in a Rivian, I may have the best chance. This race, with the R1T, sort of represents a full-circle moment in my life.
What's unique about this race?
Gardner: Where road racing is almost an engineering exercise nowadays, Pikes Peak has so many unknowns. I got delayed at the start line due to sheep on the race course. There are underlying dangers to it. A lot of corners don’t have guardrails — it’s not like a normal race track. I had to drive with extreme self control and maturity to ensure we made it to the summit. I think because of that, the unknowns, this race always tends to be more emotional than other motorsports. That’s perhaps one of the draws for me.
How did you prepare for the challenges facing you on race day?
Gardner: From the first car I bought and raced when I was sixteen to the years spent working with and around cars, in some ways I've been preparing for race day my whole life. I've had incredible guidance from a few close mentors over the years - many of whom were also there to support me on Sunday.
How do you feel now that you've successfully completed the race?
Gardner: I'm just so happy that we made it to the top. It has been a really emotional week coming down from the highs of this weekend. I'm still catching up with everyone and hearing stories from the crew and my wife and parents that were there to witness it all.
“The support I've gotten from my mentors, my family and my Rivian crew has been nothing short of amazing.”
Gardner Nichols Rivian Sr. Performance Test Engineer
What's next for you and Pearl (your R1T)?
Gardner: We had so much positive feedback from competitors and fans. People were excited to see a Rivian competing and many had never seen a truck move in this way before. I don't know exactly what's next for Pearl, but I know she's ready to rip.
Follow along with Rivian
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