|
LATEST SNIPPET
Savannah Rickli and her team had a very
successful 2010 season! Rickli broadened her
horizons as a driver through her participation in
autocross, road racing, and the historic Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb. This season wouldn't have
been possible with the loyal support from the fans,
fellow competitors, and of course, the sponsors.
Thank you to all who made this year possible! Her
website will be updated as 2011 plans become
public!
Direct access to
this web page: http://bit.ly/gsYZOf
Profile
News
Results
Schedule
Snippets
Related Issue:
Women
Racers
Directory,
Women
in Racing,
Women
Racers,
More
Women in
Racing,
Race
Schedules,
Notable
Women
Contact: eMail
| www.savannahrickli.com
Direct link to
this page - http://bit.ly/gsYZOf
Profile
Birthdate- July 27,1993
Weight- 115lbs.
Height- 5'6"
College- Metropolitan State College of Denver:
Marketing/Psychology
Greatest Racing Memory- Pikes Peak International
Hill Climb, 2010
Daily Driver-1995 BMW M3
Family- Parents, Neil and Carol, Brother, David
Current Location Littleton, CO
Savannah Rickli is 17-year-old from Littleton,
Colorado. Savannah started karting at the age of 11
but her love for racing began much earlier than
that. Being born into a racing family, speed was
always in her blood. Spending many of her days at
the racetrack, Savannah got tired of just watching
and saved up enough money to buy her own kart- what
started out a hobby, soon turned into a deep
passion and a burning desire to be on the
track.
Savannah finished the 2006, 2007 and 2008
seasons with the Class Championship.
Savannah participated in SCCA Solo Nationals in
2008 and 2009. In 2010 Savannah’s career
received an important boost when she teamed up with
SCR Management. In 2010, Savannah became the
youngest driver to finish the world famous Pikes
Peak International Hill Climb. Savannah was awarded
the Rookie of the Year award and finished third in
the Time Attack 2WD class. In 2010, Savannah earned
her regional competition license, and looks forward
to her national license in the 2011 season.
Savannah’s other experiences include ice
racing with Colorado’s Our Gang Ice Racing,
participation with NASA (National Auto Sports
Association), an educational day at Bondurant
SuperKart school, and SCCA Rally Cross Nationals. A
full resume of Savannah Rickli’s on track
accomplishments is available upon request.
When Savannah isn’t racing, she enjoys
traveling, writing, being with friends, and is a
major movie buff. Savannah is a very dedicated
student. She graduated from Dakota Ridge High
School in December of 2010. Savannah is currently
attending Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Savannah works out on a regular basis to keep at
her physical best.
News
Savannah Rickli sets a
record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Savannah Rickli, a 16 year old high school senior
from Littleton, Colorado, made history on Sunday
June 27th, 2010 when she became the youngest
finisher in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
during the 88th running of the event. The PPIHC is
the second oldest race in the United States; only
the Indy 500 has run more races. Rickli was also
awarded the honor of being named Rookie of the
Race, a tremendous achievement.
Savannah relied on Rebecca Greek as co-driver in
their 2003 Mini Cooper S, powered by Mini of
Loveland, fabricated and engineered by
Built-By-Bones, with race preparation and race
support by SCR Performance. The finishing time of
13:58 was good enough for 3rd in the Time Attack
2Wheel Drive class.
Savannah and Rebecca were fortunate to encounter
favorable conditions on their run up one of
Colorado’s most scenic peaks, and were the
crowd favorites, with the cheering often overcoming
the exhaust tone of the Mini Cooper S. Savannah has
been attending as a child of loyal hill climb
workers, parents Neil and Carol, for the last 12
years. She worked in race control in 2008 and
2009.
“To be a driver in the most famous race in
Colorado, the most famous Hill Climb in the world,
along drivers who I idolize, is very humbling.
Everyone involved with the event has been so
supportive, and the fans are amazing” said
Rickli. She admitted to be in tears during the
overwhelming fan support shown as the cars made the
way downhill after the race. Rickli and Greek
celebrated with their team by spraying (age
appropriate) sparkling apple cider, and champagne,
over the mud caked race car. Grant Barclay, one of
Savannah’s management team, and car owner of
the record setting Mini Cooper S, was quoted as
saying “ many successful American racers have
competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
during their careers, racers like the Unser family
(Savannah displaced Al Unser Jnr as the youngest
finisher), the Andretti’s, the
Vascholtz’s, and many others. We hope we can
steer Savannah on a path to success similar to
those racers, and we intend returning to the PPIHC
in years to come to support this great event. When
I grew up as a track rat in South Africa, I heard
about this mountain and this event. Never could I
imagine I could come here as a rookie car owner,
and see such great success. The entire team
deserves congratulations.”
Savannah and Rebecca both appreciate the history
of this famed event, and named the Mini Cooper S
race car “Michelle” in honor of Michelle
Mouton, a famed French rally driver who tackled the
hill climb during the 1980’s as part of the
record setting Audi team. Not only is Savannah
Rickli, the youngest finisher in the 88 history of
the event at 16 years and 11 months, but she also
becomes the youngest female to start, and to finish
the race.
Phil Leyton, long time race director of the
PPIHC granted Savannah the exemption required by
all drivers younger than 18 years old. Mr. Leyton
was quoted as saying “ the Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb directors believe that
Savannah represents a whole new generation of racer
who will be competing in the race for years to
come”. With ongoing paving of the racecourse
scheduled to be completed by 2012, the focus is
already changing to racecars more suited to road
racing. Rhys Millen in his Hyundai based sports
proto-type, and Jeff Zwart in the Porsche Carrera
Cup car, are experienced hill climb racers who
brought new cars to the event this year.
Congratulations are due to Jeff Zwart in his
Porsche GT3 Cup car as he destroyed the course
record in the Time Attack 2WD class, well done.
Jeff admitted he really enjoyed his return to Pikes
Peak after a few years of not competing. He did
comment, “ I realized on Sunday morning that I
was under some pressure to finish today. The Mini
of Loveland team have been playing up the Porsche
versus Mini rivalry, and they would have given me a
really hard time if they had beaten us” Jeff
was referring to the recent tongue in cheek rivalry
between the two companies, Mini having challenged
Porsche to a race around Road Atlanta earlier in
the month.
Savannah Rickli will not be resting for too long
before returning to racing this season. She will be
racing the Powered by Mini of Loveland Cooper S at
several SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) events in
Colorado during the remainder of the 2010 race
season, as she works toward her SCCA National
License. Savannah’s goal is to progress into
professional Touring and Sports Car racing within
the next few years. Ultimately Savannah would like
to race in the United States’ oldest motor
race, the Indy 500.
Savannah and Rebecca thank all their sponsors,
motor sport management, supporters,crew, friends
and family. “the support shown by the entire
motor sport community in Colorado and beyond has
just been amazing” Rickli was quoted as saying
during her acceptance of the Rookie of the Year
award. Rickli intends returning to the Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb in 2011, and will remain
loyal to the Mini brand for 2011 at least. Mark
Baer, team principal, and one of Savannah’s
management team said “Savannah has proven
today that she has the skills and determination to
race up this incredible mountain successfully. We
hope , as her managers, to be able to attract
enough sponsor interest to return to Pikes Peak in
2011, in an improved version of our current Mini
Cooper. It would be ideal if we could convince Mini
USA to let us race the upcoming Mini Coupe (the
sporty 2 seat Mini Cooper scheduled for a 2011
release) or even the Mini Countryman (a 4WD version
of the popular Mini)” “perhaps we can
even give Porsche a better race next year”
said Baer laughing.
Savannah and her record setting Mini Cooper S
will be appearing at the Mini in the Mountains
event, based in Winter Park, August 12-15, and also
the concurrent Mini takes the States in Denver Aug
14/15. Catch her and her race car as part of the
Mini of Loveland display at these events, she will
be available for fan photos and signing autographs
at both events. www.MINIofLoveland.com
, click on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb link
Snippets
Results
Schedule
* * *
WomenInRacing.org
©1996-2023 by of Gordon Clay
|
