While there was no official factory participation in this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb, our favorite marque faired well in the hands of private customer teams. In the configuration of the GT3 Cup car finished second and third in the Time Attack class at the second oldest motorsports event in North America. David Donner took second-place in his spec Cup car while Jeff Zwart, running in his 14th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, was third in a Cup car outfitted with a turbocharged Porsche engine.
Zwart has always had clean runs up the 12.42-mile course, and expected Sunday’s “Climb to the Clouds” to be the same. However, unexpected rain and snow throughout his race attempt up Pikes Peak put his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car third class for the final standings, tenth overall for the race.
“While we are disappointed that we didn’t win the class, there were crashes all around us as the bad weather really affected the event, and we were able to stay on the road and run a fast time. Our Porsche performed well, and the Mountain was full of Porsche fans who really appreciated out efforts,” said Zwart.
Zwart was making up time on both eventual winner Paul Dallenbach’s Hyundai Genesis and runner-up Donner’s Porsche during the late-week practice sessions, but both his rivals got clean runs up the Mountain Sunday. Zwart was slowed by a fast-moving storm which dumped rain, hail and snow throughout his session. Although he turned his best time ever on the newly-paved road, his rivals went faster.
Click here to watch a POV video of Sébastien Loeb’s overall record setting run in his Peugeot. OMG! The spectators are nuts. Look how close they are to the course. It’s like a true rally race. Thankfully, no one is jumping out in front!
Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
Jeff Zwart’s Results from the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Jeff Zwart Debuts the Porsche 911 GT2 RS at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Zwart Wins Seventh Pikes Peak Title Shatters Class Record by 38 Sec
View Comments (5)
I'm in awe of Loeb and all these drivers. He averaged over 87 mph - if you have never driven up this road, you can't really appreciate that accomplishment! Amazing skills...
Chuck, so true. I remember driving up Mt. Washington in NH. The Mt. is only 6100'. I was scared going 40 in a few spots. Can't imagine doing it at the speeds these guys do it at.
If you are reporting Porsche results, please go deeper than the winner's press release: Colorado Porsche enthusiast Fred Veitch finished seventh in the Time Attack class, also affected by the rain and sleet.
Frank
@Frank, PPIHC doesn't seem to have updated their results page as of yet. Do you have a source? Thanks!
Sports Car Digest has only the Top 3 in each class with times, etc., although they have a couple of photos of Veitch, Zwart and the couple of other Porsches on the mountain - some fabulous pics, btw.