000 Announces Six-Time Pikes Peak Winner David Donner Will Race One of a Kind Art Car in This Year’s Race to the Clouds

LOS ANGELES (July 29, 2020) – As teams prepare for the 2020 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, the Colorado race welcomes an unexpected entry in the form of the 000 art car—a Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport driven by three-time King of the Mountain David Donner. Since 1916, Pikes Peak has been one of the world’s most challenging motorsport contests. The 12.42-mile course’s rapid ascent from its start line at 9,390 feet to the finish line at 14,115 feet taxes driver stamina and acuity. Donner is no stranger to its extraordinary challenges, having taken three overall wins and three class wins at an event that has long attracted top rally and racing drivers from around the world—with many of them supported by manufacturer teams.

“I was never interested in returning to Pikes Peak unless I could drive something with a racing pedigree, plenty of horsepower, traction control, and ABS,” says the three-time King of the Hill. “Porsche’s GT2 RS Clubsport checks all those boxes, and then you place it on Michelin race tires and we have the car. And the 000 art car looks spectacular.”

“Funny enough, the art car’s entry was completely serendipitous,” comments Pete Stout, co-founder of 000 Magazine (pronounced “Triple Zero”). “This began as an editorial project for a shoot on Pikes Peak, and a fun way to let 000 readers and followers know our Rare Shades™ events will go on even if we couldn’t hold one in Toronto this summer. While Larry Chen was shooting the car at a track test, I asked David if he was racing at Pikes Peak this year. He said no—but that he might be if the GT2 was available! When everyone stopped laughing, I asked what it would take and we moved quickly to develop a program to support him with the brand partners who supported the creation of the 000 art car—Michelin, Champion, Chopard, and Meguiar’s. We’re absolutely thrilled to see Donner Motorsports enter the car in one of the world’s most storied races.”

Donner’s connection to Pikes Peak runs deep, as his grandfather helped restart the race after World War II and his father drove a Porsche RS-61 to three wins in the 1960s. David has raced a wide variety of machinery on the hill, from production-based race cars to purpose-built open-wheelers. “I’ve always looked at it as racing the mountain with great respect,” comments Donner. “First you have to finish, then your position is determined.”

Designed by 000 creative director Justin Page and wrapped by Pro Graphics Install of Denver, the colorful art car is sure to stand out in the Time Attack 1 division. Its design takes a cue from Rare Shades™, an event series launched by 000 in collaboration with @ptsrs to highlight Porsches in unusual colors or Paint to Sample. Page’s design includes many “Easter eggs,” with the zeroes in the magazine’s logo appearing throughout the car.

 

“It will be exciting to watch David Donner return to competition on Pikes Peak this summer in the 000 Porsche,” said Megan Leatham, Executive Director for the PPIHC. “The Donner family has been part of the history of this world-class event for more than 60 years. We were pleased to induct the Donner family, including David, to the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame in 2016. David and fellow competitor Jeff Zwart, who was inducted in 2018, are the first Hall of Fame recipients to return to competition on Pikes Peak. We are pleased to offer a bespoke white windshield banner from our partner, Gran Turismo, to exclusively honor current Pikes Peak Hill Climb Hall of Famers who return to competition on America’s Mountain.”

Launched by longtime editor-in-chief Pete Stout (formerly with Excellence and Porsche Panorama) and editor/writer Alexander Palevsky in 2016, 000 is a collectible quarterly journal that provides Porsche enthusiasts with new insights and unrivaled perspective. Each issue has 260 pages, weighs three pounds, and is limited to 7% advertising. The magazine’s name is a reference to three-digit Porsche model numerology and a promise to explore the marque from its origins forward. 000 is not affiliated with Porsche AG, Porsche Cars North America, Inc., or any of their subsidiaries. For more information, please visit 000magazine.com