How Acura is Planning to Set a New Front-Drive Pikes Peak Record

Acura is returning to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for its 16th consecutive year, and it has a specific target in mind for the 104th running of the historic event: resetting the front-wheel-drive course record.

The premium performance brand will field an Integra Type S DE5 race car in the highly competitive Time Attack 1 (TA1) division. Behind the wheel will be two-time Formula Drift champion and Pikes Peak class winner Dai Yoshihara.

To claim the record, Yoshihara will need to beat a time of 10:48.094. That benchmark was set back in 2018 by Acura engineer Nick Robinson, who piloted a 500-horsepower, front-wheel-drive Acura TLX up the mountain.

The Tool for the Job: HRC Integra Type S DE5

While the production Integra Type S is already a potent hot hatch, the DE5 version is a purpose-built race car developed by Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US). The vehicle is eligible for multiple racing series, including SRO TC America, and is sold directly to customer racers.

Under the hood is a modified version of the factory 2.0-liter turbocharged K20C8 inline-four. Co-developed by the HRC branches in the US and Japan, the engine produces more than 360 horsepower. Instead of the street car's standard six-speed manual, power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters.

Navigating the extreme altitude changes of the 12.42-mile course requires specialized hardware. As the car climbs from the 9,390-foot starting line to the 14,115-foot summit, the air thins significantly. To combat power loss, the Pikes Peak entry has been fitted with:

• A high-volume intake system and charge pipe upgrade kit
• A lightweight tube-and-fin intercooler from PRL Motorsports
• A custom 3-inch Borla exhaust system
• HRC US-developed suspension and braking components
• Yokohama Advan A005 racing slicks

The body shell has been completely stripped of street-car amenities—including soundproofing, underbody coating, and seam sealers—to shed weight. A full safety roll cage and specialized aerodynamic and cooling upgrades round out the package.

Additional Team News: Bobsled Pilot Takes the Pace Car Wheel

Beyond the competitive record attempt, Acura has announced that two-time U.S. Olympian and Team USA bobsled pilot Kaysha Love will serve as the driver for the official pace vehicle. Love, who recently won the Monobob world title in 2025 and secured top-seven finishes at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, will lead the field up the 156-turn course.

She will be driving a 2026 Acura MDX Type S sporting a patriotic red, white, and blue Team USA livery. Riding shotgun as passenger will be her fiancé and fellow Team USA bobsledder, Hunter Powell.

The pairing highlights an ongoing technical partnership between Acura and USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS). Love has previously worked with engineers at the Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio (HALO) to improve bobsled aerodynamics and speed. This relationship ties into Honda's broader role as the Official Automotive Partner of Team USA through the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Showcase for HRC Performance Parts

Acura’s factory racing efforts coincide with a broader commercial push by HRC US. The racing division is currently spinning up a new business arm dedicated to producing authentic HRC Performance Parts for retail customers.

The upcoming catalog will focus on street, track, and off-road applications, offering components designed for weight savings alongside engine, suspension, and braking upgrades. The components fitted to the Integra Type S DE5 serve as a real-world validation test for these upcoming consumer parts, which were first previewed as prototypes at the 2025 SEMA Show.

The 104th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place on June 21, 2026.