Porsche Pikes Peak Racer Aims to Best Own Record with Innovative Wing
BBi Autosport’s GT3 TurboCup Porsche smashed Time Attack 1 record last year, and they might just do it again on June 28.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the most iconic, enduring, historic, and toughest races on planet Earth. Each year, dozens of competitors take their shot at navigating the nearly 13 miles of treacherous, twisty mountain roads, gasping for air by the time they reach the 14,115 foot peak. It’s a race that, quite frankly, most people are just happy to finish. But last year, BBi Autosport‘s GT3 TurboCup Porsche had much higher aspirations.
With pro rally driver Raphael Astier behind the wheel, this amazing Porsche secured first place in the Time Attack 1 division. But they also smashed the previous class record in the process, besting it by a whopping 14 seconds. That was also good enough for second place overall finish at Pikes Peak, an even more incredible feat. Plus, we’re talking about a car that was quite literally built in 22 days, a process documented in a series of videos from The Hoonigans.
So how in the world did this team manage to pull off one of the greatest debuts in motorsports history? Well, obviously, Astier and the team of builders deserve a ton of credit. But this Porsche also has a rather large, “secret” weapon at its disposal – Verus Engineering’s Dual-Element Rear Wing. The wing itself is incredibly light, constructed of carbon fiber and utilizing aluminum mounts. Altogether, the entire assembly weighs a mere 15 pounds. But what it does in terms of redirecting air flow is pure magic.
By motorsports standards, the wing is actually somewhat small. But it produces a tremendous amount of downforce from that tidy package. Nearly 2,000 pounds at 160 miles-per-hour, in fact, which is on par with what you’d see in most professional racing applications. It’s also highly adjustable, from 30 degrees to 55 degrees, so you can dial it in no matter where you’re chasing lap records. And doing that only requires playing around with four total bolts.
Verus Engineering manufactures parts for all sorts of pro racing bodies, including IndyCar, NASCAR, and even Formula 1. But they also make and sell aero parts like this to the public. So if you’re looking to shave seconds off your Porsche or other make and model’s lap times, they’ve certainly got the experience to make it happen. You can scope out all their current wares by heading over here. And be sure and tune in when the team attempts to smash their own record at this year’s Pikes Peak race, which takes place June 28!
Photos: Verus Engineering
Join the Team Speed forums now!
