THE PPIHC BERGMEISTER AWARD IN 2022

PPIHC
June 7, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

The PPIHC Bergmeister Award in 2022

Rewarding the Fastest Porsche on the Mountain

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, brought to you by Gran Turismo, is pleased to announce a competitor award for 2022. The PPIHC Bergmeister Award, presented by Fred Veitch and Porsche of Colorado Springs, will be presented to the driver of the overall fastest Porsche, regardless of division. On June 26, seventeen racecars sporting the iconic Porsche badge will vie for the award.

A uniquely-styled commemorative trophy will be presented to the recipient, along with a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice, at the 2022 Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 27, 2022.

About the PPIHC Bergmeister Trophy:

Porsche has a long and storied history of hill climbing competition around the world and on Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain. Fred Veitch, Chairman of the Board, former Pikes Peak International Hill Climb competitor and Porsche aficionado, has partnered with Porsche of Colorado Springs, known for hosting Porsche race teams and providing team support, to create this award honoring the fastest driver sporting the iconic Porsche crest. “Bergmeister” comes from the German word “Berg” meaning mountain, and “Meister” or Master.

A Brief History of Porsche Racing on Pikes Peak:

Porsche made a competitive debut on Pikes Peak in 1958 when Bill Paine entered a Porsche 356A. Bob Donner, Jr., followed with his Porsche entries in the Group 2 Sports Car classes from 1959 through 1962, notching wins in three of those four years. In 1971 Porsche 914 engines became the go-to power source in the lightweight dune buggies. Rick Mears, a future 4-time Indy 500 winner, captured a division win in a Porsche-powered buggy in 1976. Bruce Canepa arrived at Pikes Peak in 1979 in the new Newman-Draeger race car, powered by a Porsche 911 engine.

Few Porsche entries attempted the popular Rally class in the 1980s. By the mid-1990s, Jeff Zwart made his mark on Pikes Peak in a Porsche and never looked back. Zwart was inducted in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum Hall of Fame in 2018 in honor of his accomplishments behind the wheel as a multi division winner, along with his roles as a photographer, filmmaker and driving coach. David Donner and Romain Dumas in Porsche GT3Rs, found great success on Pikes Peak with division wins during the 2010s. A one-make Porsche division was introduced in 2018 with fan favorite Travis Pastrana taking home first place.

As the 2020s began Raphael Astier competing in a GT3 Cup Turbo set a Time Attack record in 2019. The one-make Porsche division continued and in 2020 Kathryn Mead was awarded third place and Rookie of the Year honors in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

The award for the fastest Porsche in 2021 was piloted by overall record holder, Romain Dumas behind the wheel of the #38 Champion Porsche. Dumas won the Time Attack 1 division in a 2019 Porsche 911 GT2RS Clubsport.