Honda to field seven entries at Pike’s Peak

Honda will join the 2014 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb as a sponsor and a competitor, the company said on Thursday. The company will run five cars up the hill, in addition to a motorcycle and an ATV.

"Pikes Peak presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase Honda's diverse product lineup as we work to further strengthen Honda's presence in racing at all levels," said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda. "Our associates will be working hard between now and race day to prepare this diverse field of race vehicles and showcase the Honda Racing Spirit."

In the Unlimited class, the one that Monster Tajima owns, Honda will field the Norma, a Honda-powered purpose-built racer. French driver Romain Dumas will be behind the wheel. In the Pikes Peak Open class, Honda will run a first-gen Acura NSX with James Robinson at the helm. Honda PR flack Sage Marie will drive the S3700 in the Time Attack class. Corey Taguchi will drive a Honda Fit B-Spec in Exhibition and finally in the EV class, Roy Richards will pilot the Fit EV.

Honda is also working with the Pikes Peak sanctioning body to improve safety on the course. Honda joined with the American Medical Association to implement the AirFence on key corners, providing a soft-wall safety barrier.

This isn’t Honda’s first time at Pikes Peak. In 2011, the company brought a Fit hatchback to the famous hill climb. In 2012, it fielded an Acura NSX powered by an ALMS engine. In 2013, it brought 11 vehicles to compete in 10 classes.

The 2014 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on Sunday, June 29.

By Jake Lingeman