2017 Porsche 911 R Hits 197 MPH during Extreme Italian Alps Hooning

On this occasion, we're dealing with a two-sided story, one that involves going fast on the road, as well as on the track.

Sport Auto's Christian Gebhardt recently got up close an personal with one of these stick shift Neunelfers, splitting their quality time together between a Hockenheim Short stint and a visit to the Nivolet Pass in the Italian Alps.

When it came to the circuit adventure, the Neunelfer managed to set a lap time of 1.09,1. And this is where the inevitable comparison with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS steps in, with the track animal having set a time of 1.08,50. Given the driving pleasure focus of the R, which has to do with all sorts of aspects, from the transmission and the downforce to the suspension setup, the difference seems perfectly normal.

As for the road adventure, the velocity mentioned in the title above only tells a part of the story. Since we're talking about one of the highest roads in the world (it sits at 8,665 feet/2,641 meters above sea level), the bends and the elevation changes present there endured an uber-wild experience, with the 911 R being able to fulfill its mechanical destiny.

Nevertheless, given the tons of unprotected corners, it's worth paying attention to the pace difference between the track and the street driving.

P.S. If you're seeking inspiration for a high-on-gas roadstrip this summer, perhaps the Nivolet Pass, which, by the way, served as the location of choice for many Italian Job scenes, is the place to go - to help you decide, here's a map of the shenanigan-friendly route.