Chilly 964 C2 Carves up an Icy Swedish Lake With Ease

Ice, Ice, Baby

By now, we're convinced that Porsche vehicles are fantastic machines capable of dominating any level of motorsport imaginable. That includes ice racing as well, apparently. The automaker recently caught up with professional ice racer Johan Sellbom, who owns one-third of a frozen lake in Swedish Lapland, along with a very special 964 C2 that he routinely works out there in the wintertime.

Photos: Porsche 

Surface Prep

Each year on December 1st, Sellbom's season begins. Which is pretty much dictated by the condition of the lake at the time, of course. "Preparation of the lake always begins with measuring the thickness of the ice, after which the people in charge determine the track layout," he explained. "Then you have to blow the snow away and clear the 'moose road.'" Then, GPS data is used to shape the actual track itself.  

Photos: Porsche

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Oh What a Feeling

Sellbom isn't the only person who enjoys drifting a Porsche around this famous icy lake, however. He's joined by Patrick Simon, track spokesman for the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, ADAC GT Masters commentator, Formula E commentator, and presenter, and racing driver and instructor. The Porsche legend spends roughly a month a year at Swedish Lapland. "I never tire of experiencing the spirit of the old cars," he says. "Driving a Porsche on a frozen lake simply feels great."

Photos: Porsche

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Dream Come True

"Ice & Iron is a dream come true. Where else do you have the opportunity to push old cars so close to their limit?” said Patrick as he climbed into the 1991 Porsche 964 C2. Simon has been preparing for the annual event since the summer time, and it's a big part of what he teaches his students in his own personal program.

Photos: Porsche

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At the Limit

"In my program, participants learn controlled drifting on a frozen lake," Simon said. "The sectional training is geared specifically to learning success, starting with exercises for correct braking, avoidance, and load changes. On different handling courses, participants are introduced to both the limits of the vehicle and to their own limits, step-by-step, in small groups."

Photos: Porsche

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Obvious Benefits

Learning to drift a Porsche in a place with close geographical proximity to the magnetic North Pole has other benefits as well. They include the occasional presence of the Northern Lights, along with some of the most dramatic sunsets you'll ever witness. The only downside? Temperatures routinely plummet as low as -40 degrees.

Photos: Porsche

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Risk and Reward

But that's of little consequence to the men who spend weeks here each and every year. To them, no challenge is greater than learning to control and old Porsche in the most extreme conditions. And there's no greater reward than doing it perfectly, either.

Photos: Porsche

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