1,250 hp hybrid Corvette shatters the Pikes Peak production record

Key Points:

• Professional racer JR Hildebrand set a new production car record at the 2026 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, completing the 12.4-mile, 156-corner course in 9.5 minutes driving a 1,250 hp hybrid Corvette ZR1X.
• The race featured fierce competition among electric, hybrid, and combustion-powered vehicles, with the overall record still held by an electric Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, which completed the climb in 7:57 in 2018.
• Hildebrand's hybrid Corvette combined a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with an electric motor, providing superior traction and acceleration, particularly in low-speed corners, contributing to its record performance in the production class.
• Despite Chevrolet claiming the ZR1X's time as a new production car record, Pikes Peak regulations may exclude hybrids from this category, making the Corvette the fastest production hybrid instead.
• The overall race winner was Romain Dumas in a Ford Super Mustang Mach-E EV, finishing in 8:18.202, demonstrating the ongoing rivalry and technological advancements between electric, hybrid, and traditional combustion vehicles at Pikes Peak.