The third annual Corkscrew Hillclimb took place during the 2024 Monterey Pre-Reunion, setting new records and drawing significant attention from legendary drivers eager to prove their mettle on the iconic turn.
This year’s event marked the North American dynamic debut of the 2022 McMurtry Spéirling and the return of the 2024 Drako GTE with professional racer Andy Pilgrim behind the wheel, further solidifying the impressive performance of electric vehicles. Fans were also thrilled by the appearance of a new crowd favorite, the brand-new Case IH Steiger 620 Quadtrac tractor, which brought a unique and entertaining twist to the competition.
A new Corkscrew Hillclimb record was clearly inevitable after the McMurtry’s first practice run with former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver Max Chilton at the helm. The center-cockpit Spéirling launched toward turn 11 for the hard right-hander with such quickness that spectators stood nearly speechless. While the McMurtry was the clear leader of the group, second and the third was tightly contested.
The top three 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 his 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula One car that set the fastest time in 2023 with a 34.69 time. While the McMurtry shattered the record, the starting line was slightly farther back in 2023, making an identical comparison difficult.
Since its inception in 2022, the Hillclimb has attracted a mix of serious competitors and vehicles entered purely for exhibition and entertainment. The inaugural event saw Pixar’s character Doc Hudson take on the challenge, along with professional drifting driver Matt Field, who wowed spectators with clouds of tire smoke. The 2023 edition featured an off-road dune buggy from track agriculture sponsor Tanimura & Antle, which barely kept more than two wheels on the ground at any point. This year it was the largest and most advanced tractor used at Merrill Farms that was able to really capture the enthusiasm and delight of the fans.
The Corkscrew Hillclimb always brings out the competitive spirit in drivers. Though the Case tractor was cruising at a top speed that didn’t even make the timing sheet, driver Jonathan Merrill quipped,“It was a blast to bring the tractor out for its Laguna Seca debut and to see the fan reactions was worth the entire experience. We will be back next year bigger and better and ready to bury the McMurtry.” He added, “Thank you Sonsray Machinery for providing the tractor and transportation for this event. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Overall, it was a very successful weekend that serves as the official opening of Monterey Car Week. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is now up with more than 400 authentic historic race cars invited to compete August 14-17. Tickets are available by calling 831-242-8200 or online at WeatherTechRaceway.com.