Yahoo Autos Pikes Peak Legend David Donner Aims For Production-Car Record in 911 Turbo S
Pikes Peak is unique among top-level motorsports events in being open to all kinds of cars. So long as it meets all the necessary safety standards, the car is pretty much good to go. This often leads to wild, one-off builds, but on the flip side, it means you can also turn up and run with a street car. Pikes Peak legend David Donner, the Porsche-focused 000 magazine, and Florida dealer Champion Porsche have teamed up to enter a 911 Turbo S road car in the race, and they're aiming for a production-car record.
000 editor Pete Stout tells Road & Track that after arriving at the dealer, this Lightweight-package Turbo S went straight to a race shop. There, the interior was stripped out and a roll cage, racing seat, six-point harness, fuel bladder, and a fire suppression system were installed. One particularly clever detail is the battery cutoff switch installed in a carbon-fiber housing where the cupholder would normally go. The exhaust was swapped for something a bit freer flowing and Stout says the engine was remapped to give better performance at altitude, but the car is otherwise unchanged. The chassis, brakes, and bodywork are standard, and the tires are road-legal Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs. (In case of rain, a Pirelli P-Zero Corsa will be used.)
The Donner family has been a presence at Pikes Peak since the Sixties, and David has been named King of the Mountain in 1991, 2002, and 2005. In 2020, he competed with 000 and Championship Porsche in a 911 GT2 RS Clubsport race car, setting a 9:36.559, which earned him a Time Attack 1 class win and third overall.
Currently, the production car record is held by a factory-entered Bentley Continental GT, which set a 10:18.488 with Rhys Millen at the wheel. The previous record holder? A 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S driven by David Donner. Clearly, this is personal.
With all due respect to Millen and the fabulous Bentley Continental GT, it's hard not to imagine Donner beating the record in the Turbo S, conditions permitting. It's just a much more capable car. It's just a question of how much they can beat the record by. The answer will come on the 26th, the 100th (!) running of the Pikes Peak hill climb.
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