Gardner Nichols, Rivian’s Senior Performance Test Engineer, achieved a remarkable feat at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, piloting the 1025 hp second-generation quad-motor Rivian R1T to a record-breaking time of 10:53.883. This run not only surpassed Nichols’ previous record by 30 seconds but also established a new benchmark for production trucks at Pikes Peak.
Nichols’ exceptional performance highlighted the R1T’s capabilities, despite its substantial weight, making it a standout competitor in the challenging hill climb.
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Gardner Nichols and his 1025hp second generation Quad-Motor R1T are ready to attack @PPIHC this Sunday and we can’t wait to see what happens.
Watch live race coverage starting at 7:30am MT at https://t.co/yjyy8h5PU1. pic.twitter.com/x0y6rx6Pzc
— Rivian (@Rivian) June 21, 2024
Rivian commemorated the achievement in a statement shared on its official platform, X, stating, “What a thrilling day at PPIHC! Gardner Nichols and his Quad-Motor Gen 2 R1T blazed across the finish line in 10:53.883 — beating the time he set last year by 30 seconds and yet again claiming the record for fastest production truck to ever summit this iconic course.”
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What a thrilling day at @PPIHC! Gardner Nichols and his Quad-Motor Gen 2 R1T blazed across the finish line in 10:53.883 — beating the time he set last year by 30 seconds and yet again claiming the record for fastest production truck to ever summit this iconic course. pic.twitter.com/All7mKab56
— Rivian (@Rivian) June 24, 2024
Reflecting on the event, Nichols acknowledged the challenges he faced, particularly with the R1T’s battery temperature. He adjusted his driving to avoid overheating issues, a problem he did not encounter during this year’s climb.
RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, expressed his enthusiasm for the R1T’s accomplishment, sharing images of the vehicle and its driver in a Rivian Gear Guard-inspired racing suit. “Loved being at Pikes Peak today. Amazing job to Gardner and the team. Also Gardner’s race suit is pure magic,” Scaringe remarked.
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Loved being at Pikes Peak today. Amazing job to Gardner and the team. Also Gardner’s race suit is pure magic 🙂 pic.twitter.com/4e9lfiBYXL
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) June 23, 2024
Awesome shots of our new Quad R1T at Pikes Peak practicing for Sunday’s big race!! pic.twitter.com/vm2sba8mzc
— RJ Scaringe (@RJScaringe) June 20, 2024
Although the Rivian R1T faced competition from other all-electric trucks at the event, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning Supertruck, the R1T’s performance stood out. While the Ford F-150 Lightning Supertruck is a purpose-built racing machine with custom electric motors and an aggressive aero kit, the Rivian R1T competed mostly in its stock form, with only minor modifications like a semi-stripped interior.
