Though this green Porsche might resemble the iconic 993 GT2, it’s an impostor. Rupert Schwaiger has taken a plain Jane ’88 Carrera and draped it in the 993 GT2 Evo’s carbon skin, added a 964 RS’ rear end, and built a 3.5-liter engine that makes a frightening 640 horsepower at 5,100 rpm. Since that shoves along a stripped-bare racer weighing just 2,266 pounds, it gobbles up sections of this Italian mountain road with a ravenous appetite. Yet, despite the fearsome performance, it is made almost friendly for these sorts of events. “Almost” is the key word here.

Thanks to a paddle-shifted sequential gearbox from a 997 RSR, Schwaiger can keep his hands comfortably on the wheel. The gears are stacked very closely so straight-line speed is exceptional—just 7.8 seconds to 120 miles an hour, though with 442 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm, they could sit further apart and still make an impression. That pavement-churning force is harnessed by 335-section Avon tires and a Racelogic traction control system; even slower corners are handled without much wheelspin. It’s a ferocious car from the outside, and though it undoubtedly requires the driver’s full attention, it might be more docile than the striking paint and popping motor suggest.

An ironing board in the place of a spoiler forces those massive tires into the road. Photo credit: http://www.porsche-club-steiermark.at

With a Conti-Teves racing ABS system, Schwaiger, now nearly seventy years old, can brake with certainty on the uneven surface of the Cividale-Castelmonte hilllclimb. So, despite the aggressive appearance of this long-running Porsche, it has all the amenities to make it almost friendly. Considering the thrust, the weight distribution, and the confines of the course, it runs like a pussycat. Perhaps that’s what gives an older gentleman like Schwaiger the confidence to continue pushing well into late age. He should be an inspiration to us all.