The crew at Hoonigan have never been known for subtlety, cranking out tremendous over-the-top vehicles and videos of equal lunacy. This time, they’ve set their sights on Pikes Peak, the international hill climb event in Colorado, which is celebrating its 100th running this year.
Billed as “the world’s nastiest 911” by its builders at BBi Autosport out of California, this “Hoonipigasus’” unique livery pays homage to the classic Porsche 917/20 ‘Pink Pig,’ a one-off racer that set tongues wagging at Le Mans five decades ago.
This year’s purpose-built machine apparently started life as a garden-variety 912 from the ‘60s, but now shares as many parts with that car as your author does with Brad Pitt.
Hoonigan’s “Hoonipigasus” Porsche 911, built by BBi Autosport for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Photo by Hoonigan
Hoonigan’s “Hoonipigasus” Porsche 911, built by BBi Autosport for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Photo by Hoonigan
Hoonigan’s “Hoonipigasus” Porsche 911, built by BBi Autosport for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Photo by Hoonigan
Hoonigan’s “Hoonipigasus” Porsche 911, built by BBi Autosport for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Photo by BBi Autosport
Hoonigan’s “Hoonipigasus” Porsche 911, built by BBi Autosport for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Photo by BBi Autosport
The original four-banger engine was yanked and presumably pitched in the nearest dumpster, replaced with a twin-turbo flat-six displacing 4.0L and making about 1,400 horses. Reinforcing our belief the modern-day 718 Boxster/Cayman has better weight distribution than the loaded-diaper 911, BBi went ahead and installed this new engine in the middle of Hoonipigasus. Allegedly, total weight was held to about 1,000 kilograms. This will give it approximately the same power-to-weight ratio as a nuclear explosion.
Diffusers and wings sprout from the car like acne on a teenager, providing the downforce required to ascend Pikes Peak at warp speed. BBi says the suspension can be height-adjusted using GPS telemetry from previous runs, meaning this thing should suck itself to the tarmac like a Dyson to living room carpet.
Remember, the entire Pikes Peak course is now fully paved, with all 19.9 kilometres and 156 turns covered in fresh macadam about a decade ago. Elevation climbs 1,440 metres to the finish line, which stands at 4,302 metres (14,115 feet). That’s the cruising altitude of some small planes.
This year’s ‘Race to the Clouds’ event will take place on June 26, and will see Ken Block installed behind the wheel of the Hoonipigasus with aspirations of taking the win, a long-time dream of the famous rally driver’s. Of course, he’ll face some stiff competition, since the climb currently has 78 entries in multiple divisions.
Keyword: When Pigs Fly: Ken Block to wheel ‘Hoonipigasus’ up Pikes Peak