Auto hill climbing is one of the oldest disciplines in motorsport and certainly one of the most challenging. The objective is clear: the fastest vehicle to the top of the hill wins. Favouring the most extreme automotive design and technology, hill climbing has in the past centred on a legendary event "Pikes Peak" at Colorado Springs, USA. Due to the success of New Zealand's own hill climb, the Race to the Sky, that focus has since broadened to include a Northern/Southern hemisphere "Twin Peaks" Challenge. For three days over the Easter period of each year, the Cardrona Valley deep in the heartland of Central Otago, becomes a Mecca for motorsports enthusiasts. Spectators and national and international media converge at the base of the Waiorau Mountain Range to witness drivers compete for the fastest time over 15km of smooth gravel surface, 137 corners, climbing from 1,500 ft to 5,000 ft averaging a 1:11 gradient. A temporary village springs up to cater for the 100+ competitors, their support crews and thousands of spectators. Many take advantage of the extensive range of accommodation in nearby Queenstown and Wanaka; others soak up the racing atmosphere by staying at the onsite camp ground. Since 1998, the Race to the Sky has had all the special ingredients necessary to make the event a resounding success competitive racing, changing of fortunes, big crowds, fantastic weather and one of the most uniquely captivating locations for a motorsport event. It is now firmly established in the international and national motorsport, and regional tourism calendar.

The promoter of Race to the Sky and Managing Director of Queenstown Gold Rush Limited, Grant Aitken, has over 20 years involvement with Motorsport. He has competed at national level, winning a national one make Rally Championship, and been NZ touring car series runner up. In recent years Grant's competed at Bathurst, and now regularly competes in Asia, having won the Rally of Asia and Rally of Borneo. As a result of his long association with Central Otago, Grant created the opportunity to combine his two loves; Central Otago and Motorsport. The Race to the Sky was Grant's brainchild, taking inspiration from the USA event, the Pikes Peak International Auto Hillclimb. His vision is to grow the Race to the Sky into New Zealand's most prestigious international motorsport event, an event which has already attracted some of the greatest names in the discipline of auto hillclimbing. Grant is unrelenting in his quest to attract not only New Zealand's best motorsport competitors, but also the worlds best.

In 2000, 14 times Pikes Peak winner, Bobby Unser, accepted the title of Patron of Race to the Sky. Bobby's impressive racing history includes first driver to record a 200mph qualifying average speed in Indy car competition, 35 Indy car wins and 3 time Indy 500 winner.

Visit the Race to the Sky website on http://www.racetothesky.com/intro.htm

Last modified: July 21, 2009