European race car drivers Fabien Bouduban and Vanina Ickx have something in common: They both love the racing atmosphere in America.

“When I see the staff working hard to organize this unbelievable race, that (creates) a spirit,” said Bouduban, the only Swiss driver to compete in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. “A general spirit. (It’s) incredible.”

“It’s very special to race here in America and there’s always a special atmosphere,” said Ickx, the sole Belgian driver in this race. “The way the racing goes and with the prayer and the national anthem … we don’t have all that in Europe. It’s really a big show and big entertainment. (Here) you can feel a lot of support from the marshals, from the spectators and that’s a great feeling.”

Rookie Hill Climb participant Bouduban started racing just six years ago.

“I made my first race the day of my birthday,” Bouduban said with a laugh.

He said he’s raced mostly in France, making it to the French championship in 2014 and joining Team Fagioli in the European championship in 2016. Bouduban said he dreamed about racing as a child. Specifically, this race.

“For me, as a Swiss guy, European guy, it’s the most incredible Hill Climb race,” Bouduban said.

He said if he reached the top of the mountain today, that it will definitely be the race of his life.

Bouduban said these past few days have been a little hectic because they arrived later than expected, so this evening he “ … will cool down and remember the story of Pikes Peak and delight (in) it.”

Brussels native Vanina Icks started racing when she was 21 years old, which in her opinion was quite late to become a race car driver. She said it came about by coincidence.

“I met a woman who was a racer herself in the gym and she had her season all buckled up, all set up, and she became pregnant,” Ickx said. “So just before the start of the season she came to me.

“She knew who I was because I’m the daughter of a famous race car driver in Europe and she said, ‘Oh, would you like to take my place, to take my seat?’”

Ickx said she was curious and was willing to give it a try. Since then she’s raced a similar course to Pikes Peak in Germany, called the Nordschleife, taken part in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, finishing seventh, and raced in many other European competitions.

Ickx came out of seven years of retirement for this race. She estimates the first bolt of her 25th anniversary Gillet Vertigo wasn’t even screwed in until around March 24.

Ickx said she wants to be on the safe side in racing today.

“It’s such a big project for Belgium and for the car and I need to reach the top,” Ickx said.

She also said she’s happy because she retired before her son was born and now he gets to see her race.