Evasive Motorsports Finishes First in Exhibition Class at 2025 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

ENEOS ambassadors Evasive Motorsports teamed up with Hyundai for the 103rd running of The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). This new collaboration is Evasive Motorsports’ most ambitious EV project to date, and saw the team engineer a 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N to tackle the legendary race to the summit of America’s Mountain. 

Supported by Hyundai’s technological resources and record-setting experience from last year, Evasive aimed to underline its presence in the EV class once again, following a successful 2022 attempt in a modified Tesla Model 3.

Officially dubbed the Evasive Motorsports Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Pikes Peak, the performance specialist is excited to unlock the potential within the production IONIQ 5 N. To this end, the team has optimized the vehicle’s performance wherever possible, particularly in terms of chassis and aerodynamic tuning, as well as weight savings.

Evasive is no stranger to racing at altitude, and in fact, began its hill-climb journey in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. Here’s a breakdown of Evasive’s 12-year Pikes Peak experience:

      • 2013-2014: Supercharged Scion FR-S, built to demonstrate Evasive’s expertise in road racing and performance tuning
      • 2015-2016: Toyota 86, successor to the FR-S
      • 2019-2020: ENEOS Racing / Evasive Motorsports Toyota 86 powered by a 900hp Toyota 2JZ turbocharged engine; 2020 Unlimited Class winner
      • 2021-2022: Turn 14 Distribution / Toyo Tires / ENEOS / Evasive Motorsports Tesla Model 3 Pikes Peak – the company’s first attempt to develop EV performance; 2022 Fastest EV
      • 2023: Evasive Motorsports / ENEOS Oil Honda S2000RS, a race-prepared version of the Evasive S2000R resto mod; also used for various time attack competitions

EVASIVE MOTORSPORTS HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N PIKES PEAK

For the 2025 PPIHC, Evasive sought to unlock the full potential of the IONIQ 5 N, Hyundai’s first high-performance EV. Boasting 641hp and 568 lb-ft of torque (with N Grin Boost activated) plus a suite of track-ready features, Evasive is confident that by applying key learnings from its Model 3 racecar, the team will be poised to continue its electrifying success once the green flag drops.

Evasive prioritized tuning the IONIQ 5 N in terms of downforce and weight savings, since the electric motors can’t be tuned. Its in-house EVS Tuning division has successfully shaved 500 pounds from the 4851 lb vehicle by stripping the interior and fabricating four doors and the tailgate from carbon fiber.

One of the biggest hurdles has been sourcing competition parts for the new vehicle, since very few exist. However, several partners and suppliers have stepped up to provide or produce what was needed. Voltex Japan, for example, has provided its expertise in crafting one-off aero-enhancing components: 

“With a short timeframe before the race, we sent a 3D scan of the IONIQ 5 N to Voltex, allowing them to design and produce the aero parts we need,” Chang explained. “In the past, they would have sent a designer over from Japan, but now they can do everything from 3D files.”

The Voltex parts include a front lip and carbon fiber splitter, side skirts, fender flares, carbon fiber underbody aero panels, and a substantial carbon fiber rear wing to ensure downforce during the climb to Pikes Peak’s 14,115-foot summit.

To facilitate rapid wheel and tire changes, and to prevent potential damage to the Voltex bodywork, the Evasive team installed Krontec air jacks. These will allow easy removal of the lightweight forged 19×11″ Titan 7 T-P10 racing wheels fitted with carbon fiber EVS Tuning aero discs. The Hyundai will run on wide, sticky 310/690 VR19 Yokohama A005 racing slick tires.
Additional modifications include prototype EVS Tuning anti-roll bars front and rear, a custom six-point rollcage fabricated by Eimer Engineering, plus one-off Moton coilover suspension designed by Mike Kojima from MotoIQ to help keep the chassis planted as it attacks the course’s 156 turns.

DRIVER: ROB WALKER

Returning for this 2025 Pikes Peak attempt is veteran driver Rob Walker who competed in the Evasive Motorsports Scion FR-S and Toyota 86 from 2013-16. Walker is eager to get back into his Pikes Peak race rhythm and has been using sim racing to refresh his muscle memory of the 12.42-mile sprint.

“I have a dedicated sim rig I’ve been using nonstop since I was asked to drive for Evasive again at Pikes Peak,” Walker told us. “The biggest challenge with sim racing is the sense of speed, G-forces and brake timing, but it remains a valuable tool for race preparation.”

Making the transition from competing in gas to electric vehicles hasn’t been a big shift for Walker, who started competing with EVs in 2013 and has a good understanding of what it takes to manage battery charge and weight dynamics. 

Coincidentally, before he received the call from Evasive, Walker was in the market to purchase a new daily driver; something “fun and electric.” After hearing about Chang’s plan to build the IONIQ 5 N, Walker decided to purchase the same car and has been driving it regularly to better understand it in street form, testing brake pads, wheel alignment, tire compounds, and more. A further benefit is access to the Tesla Supercharger network (which Hyundai recently added), allowing Walker to run multiple track test sessions at Buttonwillow Raceway, which has fast chargers nearby.

“I’ve run a parallel program to shakedown and test my own IONIQ 5 N, which has allowed me to provide feedback to Evasive and help with their build,” Walker explained. “We’re learning where battery, motor and tire temperatures need to be at the start and end of a session, the amount of weight being applied to the tires, and experimenting with their alignment. It’s been helpful to understand and fine-tune the setup along the way.”

RACE DAY

Following a debut party at Evasive HQ, the team quickly set out for Colorado with limited testing for the big race. Practice sessions were very encouraging as the team noted the IONIQ 5 N was performing well in the various sectors, inspiring confidence when comparing it to their Tesla race car.

Although the team hoped to finally break the elusive 10-minute barrier, the course was cut short due to high winds towards the top of the mountain…but that wouldn’t stop Walker from pushing the Evasive Motorsports Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Pikes Peak as hard as he could. He finished with a 4:23.858, locking down first in the Exhibition class and 15th overall out of 73 entries.

Evasive is elated with the results and extends its thanks to their sponsors, partners, and crew for helping to make this program come to life.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Evasive Motorsports Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Pikes Peak

Suspension / Chassis: Moton Motorsports remote reservoir coilovers, prototype EVS Tuning front and rear anti-roll bars, Eimer Engineering six-point PPIHC-spec rollcage, Krontec air jacks 

Brakes: CSG Spec brake pads, Endless brake fluid

Wheels / Tires: 19×11” Titan 7 T-P10 forged racing wheels with EVS Tuning carbon fiber aero discs, 310/690 VR19 Yokohama ADVAN A005 racing slicks

Exterior: Voltex Racing Pikes Peak front lip, carbon fiber splitter, side skirts, fender flares, carbon fiber underbody panels and rear wing, EVS Tuning carbon fiber doors and tailgate

Interior / Safety: Sparco QRT-C carbon fiber seat

Photos: John Roberts, and courtesy of Evasive Motorsports