The third annual Corkscrew Hillclimb took place at the Monterey Pre-Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last weekend, breaking records and catching the attention of legendary drivers looking to showcase their skills on the iconic turn. This year featured the North American debut of the 2022 McMurtry Spéirling and the return of the 2024 Drako GTE driven by professional racer Andy Pilgrim, highlighting the impressive performance of electric vehicles. Spectators were also treated to the exciting addition of the brand-new Case IH Steiger 620 Quadtrac tractor, adding a unique and entertaining element to the competition.
The record-breaking moment came during the McMurtry’s practice run with Max Chilton, a former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver. The impressive speed and agility of the Spéirling as it navigated turn 11 left spectators in awe. While the McMurtry dominated the field, the second and third spots were closely contested.
The top three finishers in the shootout were:
1st 2022 McMurtry Spéirling Max Chilton 21.958
2nd 1967 Ford Falcon Martin Lauber 29.004
3rd 2022 Ferrari SF90 Christine Sloss 29.822
The previous record was held by Chris Locke in 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula One car with a time of 34.69 set in 2023. The McMurtry’s record-breaking performance was even more impressive considering the starting line was further back in 2023.
Since its inception in 2022, the Hillclimb has attracted a mix of serious competitors and exhibition vehicles. Previous editions saw characters like Doc Hudson from Pixar and professional driver Matt Field participating. This year, the highlight was the Case IH Steiger 620 Quadtrac tractor from Merrill Farms, showcasing the enthusiasm of fans.
The competitive spirit was evident throughout the event, with drivers pushing their vehicles to the limit. Despite the Case tractor not registering a top speed on the timing sheet, driver Jonathan Merrill expressed his excitement for bringing the tractor to Laguna Seca and promised a strong comeback next year.
Overall, the weekend was a success and officially kicked off Monterey Car Week. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is next on the calendar, featuring over 400 historic race cars competing from August 14-17.
