Some machines are built for one thing. El Bandito was built for everything. And on June 21st, 2026, RTR Vehicles, with pilot Loren Healy, will take the 1000HP Ford Bronco “El Bandito” to new heights for the 104th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
The Man Behind the Wheel
Loren Healy isn’t someone who shies away from a challenge. He's a two-time King of the Hammers Unlimited Champion, a two-time King of the Hammers Stock Class Champion, and a five-time Ultra4 Racing Champion. When the most brutal off-road races in the world hand out hardware, Loren's name tends to show up on the trophy.
But Pikes Peak is a different kind of beast. Loren enters the Hill Climb as a rookie in the Exhibition class, joining two other big names from the Ultra4 world for a discipline that last saw Ultra4 vehicles compete in 2011. Back then, Dave Cole was able to set a time of 13:05.318 running in the Pikes Peak Open Division. Not saying Loren needs to better that time, but we think it would be pretty cool if he did.
What is El Bandito?
El Bandito started life as a 2023 Ford Bronco two-door. What it became is something else entirely.
Built without an official rulebook, El Bandito exists at the intersection of everything Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Loren Healy could dream up together. Jumping, drifting, off-road, on-road, this Bronco doesn’t believe in limitations. Powered by a rear-mounted 5.2L supercharged crate engine from the GT500 Mustang, El Bandito pushes well over 1000 horsepower. Backed by a TH400 transmission, riding on FOX suspension with 2.5 coilovers, 3.5/4 bypasses, and 2.0 bumps, with 20 inches of front travel and 26 inches of rear travel, El Bandito is as serious mechanically as it is wild by spirit.
Generally found tearing up the terrain with 42" Nitto Trail Grapplers, this thing was built to handle whatever the terrain throws at it.
Earlier in 2026, El Bandito proved it had the prowess to take home a win at the FAT Ice Race Big Sky and is now ready for its next challenge of Pikes Peak with Loren behind the wheel.
Ford and America's Mountain: A Legacy Over a Century in the Making
Ford vehicles and Pikes Peak go all the way back to the beginning. When the very first race was held in 1916, a Ford Model T was among those making the climb up America's Mountain. Over a century of competition later, Ford's presence at Pikes Peak has only grown stronger.
In recent years, the Blue Oval has claimed some of the mountain's most celebrated victories with the Ford Supervan 4.2 in 2023, the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck in 2024, and most recently the Super Mustang Mach-E in 2025 and soon to be 2026. Now, a one-of-a-kind Ford Bronco loaded with GT500 power is about to add its own chapter to that story.
The Race Itself
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is not a normal race. It’s a 156-turn, 12.42-mile course beginning above 9,300 feet of elevation and finishing at 14,115 feet at the summit. The air gets thin, the margins get tight, and the mountain does not forgive mistakes. It’s one of the most demanding and iconic motorsport challenges on the planet, and it has been humbling world-class drivers since 1916.
For Loren, it’s the perfect challenge.
Mark Your Calendar
Loren Healy and El Bandito hit the mountain on June 21st, 2026, with practice and qualifying days set just days before. Come ready to witness something that has never been seen at Pikes Peak before. We cannot wait.
