Tony Brakohiapa Pikes Peak Update

Tony Brakohiapa, former Formula Drift driver, will be tackling the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year. To prepare for that challenge, Tony went testing at Sonoma Raceway, which is not only his home track, but also his normal workplace. However, things didn’t end as planned.

Things were looking up for the 1,000 horsepower monster Mustang. He didn’t change the setup since last running the car in Formula Drift, and even turned a 1:52, a time that was similar to his normal office of an Audi R8. The Mustang was even sporting a welded differential. Then disaster struck.

The engine lost a rocker and was done. With no time left between the test and the first practice up Pikes Peak, he had to resort to a plan B.

That plan B is the original Mustang that was built for him in 2005 by Steve Saleen for Formula Drift. It’s got about half the horsepower, but it will allow him to compete up the hill. The car is currently at Swanson Performance in Torrance, CA for a rebuild since he was in the process of restoring it. It’s getting a tune for more power, and then it gets all the aero bits that were going on the original Pikes Peak car.

Stay tuned as Tony’s story isn’t done just yet. Let’s cheer on this Mustang driver as he looks to defeat the Peak.