Colorado Rallycross events #6 and #7 of the 2022 season brought a double header weekend with lots of rain, lots of runs, and some scorching temperatures! Returning to Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) for the last time prior to the SCCA Rallycross National Championship which will be held there in late September competitors got a taste of several new run areas that will be utilized during Nationals. Many competitors turned out early and kicked off the race weekend on Friday night taking advantage of the free camping PPIR offers. Saturday’s course was held at the southwest corner of the main grandstand parking lot. Similar to Event #3, which was held in the same location back in May, the course featured several tighter and technical areas with deep dust building on the edges of the course as the day continued and ended with some fast-tire-killing pavement corners leading to the finish line. Competitors took 4 laps on the morning course, averaging 65 seconds per run before braking for lunch! During the break a storm began rolling in over nearby Pikes Peak (14,115’) bringing with it lightning and thunder, forcing safety stewards and event leadership to put the event on a temporary lightning hold per the SCCA rules. Event leadership remained hopeful and a gap in lightning allowed a parade lap to start off the afternoon session. Unfortunately lightning struck once again and the decision to cancel the event was made at 2:30pm. Leaving only the morning runs, times and trophy positions were officially set in stone. Shortly after the event was cancelled rain begun to pour and campers were forced to shelter under the grand stands in attempt to stay dry. After the rain stopped on Saturday afternoon course designers and volunteers navigated deep mud and standing water to plan Sundays course on the northwest corner of the main grandstand lot in an area that had yet to be raced on! Nightfall and mosquitos prevented setup from being completed on Saturday night, but the remainder was quickly accomplished on Sunday morning and the result was an absolute mega-course! The course utilized both the new northwest corner and the northeast corner that is used at most PPIR events for a combined half mile course. The course was fast and flowing, resembling the course designs traditionally used at Nationals, and still averaged 60 seconds for most competitors! An early start and minimal delays rewarded competitors with 10 runs each, making up for the previous days early rain cancellation. The lack of rain on Sunday was traded for absolutely scorching temperatures with the rally-busses thermometer reading 103 degrees! Despite the heat and dust that quickly formed as the previous days moisture left the soil smiles were seen all around. Competitors were stoked on the design and length of the course and the sheer amount of runs! An awards ceremony was held for Saturdays results, but computer issues kept Sundays results from being published till after the event. No one was complaining to get out of the heat, get home and take a shower (especially those who had been camping since Friday!).
