Off-road ace Healey ready to make his mark at Pikes Peak with Ultra 4 Bronco

Loren Healy, two-time King of the Hammers champion and five-time Ultra4 Racing champion, will make his debut at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on Sunday aboard "El Bandito," the 1,000hp Ford Bronco built by RTR Vehicles on a Ultra4 4400 chassis. Healy's debut at one of motorsport's most iconic races represents a rare crossover moment for off-road racing: the first time in 15 years that Ultra4 vehicles have officially competed at the legendary event. His will be one of four entries from Ultra4 competing in the Exhibition class.

“This has always been an event I’ve wanted to race at, and most years I have a conflict with the Baja 500 but once I saw the schedule allowed it I knew I had to try," said Healey. “The team and I have been extremely busy testing, modifying, and learning all we can about tarmac racing. Not sure what to expect but I know I’m going to have fun!”

El Bandito was purpose-built for off-road exhibitions, boasting 1,000hp, an Ultra4-inspired suspension setup with 20-inches of travel up front and 26-inches at the rear, and a full tube chassis. For Pikes Peak, RTR Vehicles – the automotive design, engineering, manufacturing and motorsports company founded by champion driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. – has reconfigured the Bronco for the demands of 12.42 miles of paved twists and turns.

Modifications include smaller-diameter 37-inch Nitto Terra Grappler G3 tires – down from 42s – which shaved about 35 lbs of rotating mass per corner, which allows for better turn-in response and faster acceleration. Other mods include a lowered center of gravity by about six inches, an additional 200 lbs of weight reduced, enhanced cooling capacity, and short-course suspension improves cornering stability and acceleration through the course's 156 turns, which take competitors more than 4,700 feet from the start line to the 14,115-foot summit of “America's Mountain.”

• Who’ll be on top of the world in 2026? RACER Network will bring live coverage of the Race to the Clouds to viewers across the world. Pikes Peak Live, presented by Mobil 1, coverage begins at 9:00am ET/7:00am MT on Sunday, June 21.
• Fans worldwide can also stream the race live on RACER+, free with email registration, ensuring motorsports enthusiasts everywhere can experience one of the world’s most challenging and iconic competitions in real time. 
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