There are plenty of hillclimb videos out there, but only rarely does the driving look so quick, so smooth, and so well-controlled, that you have to put it on repeat a few times. This is one of those gems, and ADAC driver Jürg Aeberhard takes this 550-horsepower Porsche through a treacherous hillclimb course on worn tires, and yet he still shows surgical precision and daring in every corner. More interestingly, he adapts his style depending on the speed of the course.

The grunt is provided by a 4.0-liter version of the famous Mezger engine, which ought to be enough to spin the rears of the ~2,700-pound GT3-R through the Gurnigel Begrennen event of the Swiss Hillclimb Championship. Numerous hairpins dot the the 2.3-mile course, where the Porsche should be able to employ its immense traction and fire out of the corner. However, Aeberhard notes in the video that he’s suffering from worn tires and “race track” suspension settings.

It should be said that, while the traction offered by a 911 is incredible, it’s a double-edged sword; the car can snap violently when that limit is reached. Generally speaking, the wider the tire, the snappier the breakaway, and this 911 has some massive slicks in back.

Conservative Lines and Big Slides

What’s so interesting is how neat and tidy he remains despite the lack of grip. His lines are clean and his throttle application is so measured it looks quite calm from the outside, but he’s always moving forwards—that’s the crucial point. Though massive twitches and slides might look impressive, the car continues its relentless push and never seems to lose much speed. In other words, he’s aware of the sliding underneath him and doesn’t ask too much of the Porsche; taking conservative entry speeds that are repeatable, while keeping his minimum speed up. It’s much more challenging than it looks.

This approach allows him to take his tidy lines, avoid understeer, and have the car reasonably straight come time to apply the loud pedal. When the rears do spin, he has the reactions and the serenity to keep the lurid slides in check.

Adapting to the Quicker Stuff

Perhaps what’s more impressive is his commitment at higher speeds. He doesn’t seem to take a more conservative approach when the course straightens; he leaves very little room on either side and remains completely committed, and asking even more from the front end. It seems that the aerodynamic grip helps compensate for the tires falling off slightly, and so Aeberhard is even more aggressive on the corner entry. Since the 911’s recalcitrant backside can really show its fangs in these faster corners, Aeberhard’s got the touch and treats it with some caution; lifting occasionally to avoid wheelspin.

His approach highlights the importance of understanding a car’s characteristics at different speeds, and why it’s important to have a firm grasp on the idea of downforce. Aeberhard shows his patience and respect of the front axle in the course’s slower sections; focusing instead on neatness and a strong corner-exit. Conversely, his focus changes as the speeds increase and the wings begin to work their magic. As there’s more to gain by “preserving” the easily-gained speed on a straight, he finds the courage to enter corners more assertively, all while giving the GT3 R’s backside a little more respect. With a backside like that, how couldn’t you give it some respect?