Porsche Primed for Increased Pikes Peak Effort

Photo: Porsche

Porsche is in line to again challenge for the overall win in the 99th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with a total of 13 cars entered for the famed event.

Slated to return to its traditional early summer date on June 27, the “Race to the Clouds” will be headlined by five Porsches competing in the Time Attack 1 category, including three Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsports.

As revealed in February, Four-time overall event winner Romain Dumas headlines the German manufacturer’s effort with a Champion Racing-entered Porsche.

The Frenchman will be joined by David Donohue and Christoph Breuer in GT2 RS Clubsport machinery, while Laurent Millara and Steve Zimmer will race modified versions of a 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 and Porsche Cayman GT4, respectively, also in the class.

Five Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsports will do battle in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division, including entries for Tanner Foust, 2020 rookie-of-the-year Kathryn Mead, local George Hess, Charles Wirken and Cameron Ingram.

The Pikes Peak Open division will be home to three Porsche-based entries, meanwhile.

Raphael Astier will take his modified 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car back up the mountain, along with Andy Kingsley in a twin-turbocharged 2002 Porsche 911 and Chris Strauch in a 1970 Porsche 914 ‘Wide Body’ that he has modified.

“The Pikes Peak Hill Climb’s heritage in North America, and the strong international following it has, continues to be an excellent venue to showcase Porsche strengths in competition,” said Porsche Motorsport North America Pikes Peak event manager Erik Skirmants.

“Power to weight is critical in a hill climb, as well as the tested durability of our motorsport cars.

“We have a few modified/shop-prepared Porsches as there has always been but with the introduction of the turn key Clubsport models, we have shown that Porsche has series produced models that are instantly competitive on the world stage.

“We are very happy with the mix of competitors who will be showing that the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport sets the bar for versatility and speed exactly as produced.” 

Porsche was victorious in last year’s postponed event, with David Donner driving his GT2 RS Clubsport to the marque’s 29th victory, coming in the Time Attack 1 class.

It came 40 years after his father, Robert Donner Jr., claimed Porsche’s first win at Pikes Peak, in a Porsche RSK in 1960.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John