Porsche 911 sets new world record for hill climb after heavy modification (photo)
Porsche has added another record to its long list of achievements. In December 2023, the heavily modified 911 Carrera 4S climbed to the top of the western ridge of Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world at 6734 meters. The new world record holder was driven by French driver Romain Dumas.
The idea to create a “record-breaking” 911 was born in 2019. The authors are Klaus Zellmer and Frank Walliser. The former was the president of Porsche in North America at the time. The second is vice president of vehicle dynamics and lead project manager for the 918 Spyder. They decided that such a record would be the perfect way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 964 Carrera 4, the first all-wheel drive 911.
Engineers built two Porsche 911 “all-terrain vehicles” – Doris and Edith. Both received a patented suspension system originally intended for the 919 Hybrid Le Man. But there are also differences. “The Edith received the first Porsche steering system and a seriously lightweight design. It is she who holds the new world record.
Both used the standard Carrera 4S 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged opposed six-cylinder engine with 443 hp and 529 Nm. The unit is mated to a factory seven-speed manual transmission, but the power to the wheels is controlled manually via switches on the dashboard. The driver can choose between rear and all-wheel drive. For this purpose, the Carrera 4S’s standard locking rear differential has been supplemented by a specially designed front differential.
The “all-terrain vehicle” copes with mountainous terrain thanks to giant 34-inch tires mounted on 16-inch wheel rims. The ground clearance is 348 mm. The transmission, manufactured by the German company Tibus, with a gear ratio of 1:3.6, effectively converts the first and second gears into downshifts. According to Porsche, the speed in seventh gear is about 97 km/h.
But what really allowed the 911 to climb the world’s highest volcano was the Warp Connector suspension system, which was to debut in 2014 on the 919 Hybrid at Le Mans. It was she who turned the sports car into a real tracked all-terrain vehicle capable of overcoming any obstacles.
After returning from Chile, both modified Porsche 911 Carrera 4S will take a place in the company’s museum.
