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Two Special Porsche 911 Driven Up To 19,708 Feet To Explore The Highest Volcano In The World
Two special Porsche 911 Sports Cars driven up 6,007m (19,708 feet) to explores the highest volcano in the world.
Driven to one of the toughest places on earth where there are no roads and where temperature is far below freezing.
Team tested the abilities of both cars by climbing the sheer slopes of Ojos del Salado, Chile, the world’s highest volcano.
Cars equipped with roll cages, carbon fiber seats and harnesses to meet the safety requirements such a project demands.
In addition, the Porsche vehicles received upgrades like portal axles to increase ground clearance and a newly fitted off-road tyres.
Cars also equipped with special lightweight, but extremely tough, Aramid fiber underbody protection to allow sliding over rocks.
A unique pair of experimental Porsche 911 sports cars have been driven to explore one of the toughest places on planet earth where there are no roads and where the temperature is far below freezing.
With endurance racer and adventurer, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of one of vehicles, the team tested the abilities of both cars by climbing the sheer slopes of Ojos del Salado, Chile, the highest volcano in the world.
Exploring up to 6,007 meters (19,708 feet) and with the completion of the first test, the 911, which has already been proven on the track and on the road, became one of very few vehicles of any kind to have ever reached such an extreme altitude.
“We have enormous respect for those who have gone higher. No one has seen so much ice and snow up towards the top of the volcano, but despite this we went over 6,000 meters up, to the point where the walls of ice and snow meant we could go no further. We’re really proud of what the car and the team are capable of first time out – hopefully we can count on many more adventures in the future.” said Romain Dumas, driver of the 911 and leader of the team.
To meet the safety requirements such a project demands, the two experimental Porsche 911 sports cars were first equipped with roll cages, carbon fiber seats and harnesses.
In addition to upgrades like portal axles to increase ground clearance and a newly fitted off-road tyres, the cars were equipped with special lightweight, but extremely tough, Aramid fiber underbody protection to allow sliding over rocks.
“Over 30 years ago, a team of Porsche engineers fitted four wheel drive to a 911 to explore ‘what if?’ – and I’m proud that this natural curiosity and drive amongst engineers to explore the limits, to test new ideas and above all to inspire, is alive and well,” said Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice-President, Complete Vehicle Architecture and Characteristics at Porsche.
“Projects like this one are vital to who we are at Porsche. As they began their journey, the team literally aimed sky high. The first of what I hope will be many adventures.”
