SANTA ANA, CA. – (Sept. 1, 2020) – Yokohama Tire-sponsored drivers conquered the mountain on ADVAN® tires. Veteran racer Clint Vahsholtz won the overall championship and the Open Wheel division, while Blake “Bilko” Williams captured The Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division at the 98th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Vahsholtz, driving a 2013 Ford Open shod with ADVAN A005® tires, covered the 12.42-mile Race to the Clouds in 9:35:490, setting a new record in the Open Wheel division. It was his first overall championship in 29 tries going up the mountain.
“Wow, king of the mountain,” said Vahsholtz. “It feels surreal. This moment has been years in the making. I couldn’t have done this without the never-ending support of my family and race crew. And thank you to Yokohama. The ADVAN A005 tires gave me the confidence I needed to push me hard as I could in the ever-changing conditions on the mountain. You can be sure I’ll be on Yokohama tires when I come back to defend my crown in 2021.”
For Williams, a Team Yokohama member and FMX rider/X Games medalist, winning the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division was sweet redemption for his 5th-place finish in 2019. This time Williams steered his 2016 Porsche GT4 Clubsport MR with iconic ADVAN livery and ADVAN A052® tires to the winner’s circle in 10:52.622. Williams celebrated the win in his typical irreverent style with a “shoey” – drinking champagne from his shoe!
“Man, what a week!” Williams said. “So thankful to be able to take on the mountain for a second time, get redemption from last year, and win my class! The Yokohama tires kept me glued to the road in all the conditions the mountain threw at me! Stoked on the win and doing a shoey.”
Other Yokohama-sponsored racers who reached the Pikes Peak podium included, Derek Boyd, who finished 2nd in the Unlimited division with a time of 10:11.466, good for 10th place overall; Cole Powelson, 3rd in Open wheel (9:37.449 – 4th place overall); and Fred Veitch, 3rd in the Pikes Peak open (11:02.202). All drivers were on ADVAN A005 tires.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way things went at Pikes Peak,” said Fardad Niknam, senior director of consumer product planning and product marketing. “Clint, Blake and all the drivers were fantastic. Winning the overall championship is a remarkable achievement and we’re proud to have done it on our legendary ADVAN tires.”
Along with the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama, Yokohama’s extensive list of 2020 North American-based motorsports activities – both on- and off-road – includes the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Trophy USA West, Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA, SCORE, 24 Hours of Lemons, Crandon International Raceway partnership, Subaru Motorsports USA partnership, TrophyLite, Yokohama NORRA Mexican 1000 and Yokohama Sonora Rally.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com, www.yokohamatruck.com or www.yokohamaotr.com.
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