World Cup fans are getting a taste of America for the first time since 1994 but it’s World Cup season every year at the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb presented by Gran Turismo. 

The 104th iteration of the Race to the Clouds featured 20 racers representing countries from around the globe, including France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and for the first time ever, Poland. Maciej Serafin was the first Polish competitor to challenge America’s Mountain, finishing with a time of 10:36.507 in the Time Attack 1 Division. 

After he drove past the finish line at the summit of Pikes Peak, he hopped on the roof of his 2019 Honda Civic TCR/Jas, denting it as he yelled from the top of the mountain while holding two Polish flags. 

“It’s amazing. I’m first time in America and I’m first time in Pikes Peak,” he said. “We made a very, very good time and I’m very impressed. This is a very dangerous race and I love this race and next year we’ll come to do the best time in the front wheel, so I’m very, very happy. For all  people who helped, there’s a thousand people helping me. Thank you very much.”

Serafin’s race crew told him about the importance of saving his engine for the higher elevation. He said he lost a few seconds focusing on the vehicle’s temperature.

Serafin’s joy was matched by Italian racers Simone Faggioli and Diego Degasperi. Faggioli was King of the Mountain last year on a shortened course due to high winds. This year, Faggioli wasn’t able to repeat but he and Degasperi took second and third, respectively in the Super Unlimited Division with times of  8:32.997 for Faggioli and 8:57.388 for Degasperi. Both men drive variations of Nova Proto NP01 Bardahls. 

In addition to taking several photos together, they also posed for one with Super Unlimited winner Robin Shute. The United Kingdom racer, who now resides in California, loves the challenge Pikes Peak provides. 

“It is a unique challenge and that’s why I think it gets international acclaim. Everyone can see what kind of challenge it is to race up to a 14,000-foot mountain,” Shute said. “It is a man vs. mountain challenge. It’s not competitive against each other so much. We’re all happy to see people at the top here. It’s more of a personal challenge in itself.”

Shute has raced up Pikes Peak eight times, he’s been King of the Mountain four times. This year, he finished with a time of 8:29.497 in his 2026 Sendycar V1, second only to this year’s King of the Mountain and friendly rival Romain Dumas, from France, who finished with a time of 8:18.202  

“This is the first year in this car. I designed and built this car myself,” Shute said. “We just got it done about a month ago so be on the top of the mountain, second overall rear-wheel drive record. You know what? I’ll take that. It’s a job well done.”