Bentley has been dethroned as the king of Pikes Peak production cars. A 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S driven by Pikes Peak veteran David Donner went up the hill in late September, breaking the previous record with a climb time of 9 minutes 53.5 seconds.
The time to beat was 10 minutes 18.4 seconds, set by the beefy Bentley Continental GT in 2019. Donner and the Porsche #000 team wanted to claim the record during the 100th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) event earlier this year, but wet conditions slowed it down. almost stock the 911 Turbo S to just 10 minutes, 34 seconds. The timing was fast enough to win the class and finish second overall, but the team believes the 911 can break the 10-minute mark for a production car.
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Instead of waiting another year, Donner is taking advantage of the new Pikes Peak International Hill Climb program which allows certified course times to be set outside of race days. He returned on September 27 in the same car, passed the same technological inspections, and then erased the Bentley record by 25.9 seconds.
“Capturing a production car record at 100th is our goal, and we’re excited to finally see what this car can do,” said Donner. “We were blessed with fine weather to set a quick time without practice on two chilly mornings in suboptimal light. PPIHC and Pikes Peak Highway are very supportive and accommodating, and the newly certified Course Time will allow others to make their mark on Pikes Peak for a long time to come. years to come. Our team is very happy to be a part of this program.”
The only modifications of the Porsche are for safety and calibration of walking at height. That includes roll cages, racing seats, fire systems, and permitted changes to engine computers and exhaust systems. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires are used for running.
In standard trim, the Porsche 911 Turbo S pumps out 640 horsepower, although the specific power output for the record is not mentioned. Course started at an altitude of 9,390 feet and ending in thin air at an altitude of 14,115 feet, it is necessary to calibrate.
