Sicily’s Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, said in myth to house the forge of Hephaestus, blacksmith of the Greek gods. It has been an ever present threat of destruction and has laid waste to villages, train stations, and cable cars alike. Leave it to a rally driver to look at it and say: “sure, I’ll give that a whirl.”
In a video recently released by Peugeot, rally driver Paolo Andreucci climbs up the rich volcanic earth up to the peak in a Peugeot 208 T16 R5 rally car.
The car is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces about 280 horsepower, sending it to all four wheels by way of a five-speed sequential gearbox. It premiered last year, quickly getting victories under its belt shortly thereafter in European Rally Championship events.
All the shots of this volcanic hill climb are gorgeous, showing Andreucci masterfully dancing the French rally car across the terrain. It isn’t done for any particular reason other than for the fun of it, unlike its superpowered counterpart that Sebastian Loeb drove to set a record climbing Pikes Peak.
Firing up an active volcano in the middle of the Mediterranean in a rally car wasn’t on our bucket list before, but it sure as heck is now.
Related Posts
I was skeptical of the Cadillac Lyriq-V, but a test drive changed that
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the first all-electric model in the luxury brand’s V-Series performance lineup. The V-Series has been instrumental in helping Cadillac shake off its stodgy image with fast-and-fun cars that go tire-to-tire with their counterparts from BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG. But, more often than not, Cadillac V-Series models have been powered by loud-and-thirsty V8 engines — the opposite of the silent, zero-emission electric powertrains that are ostensibly Cadillac’s future.
Save $103 on this high-power car jump starter for emergencies
If you’ve ever dealt with a dead car battery at the worst possible moment, a dependable jump starter is worth keeping in your trunk. The high-power AVAPOW 4000A portable jump starter is now on sale for $56.99, down from $159.99, giving you a $103 savings on a compact power pack that can bring a dead car back to life without needing another vehicle.
Save 15% on DEWALT’s portable power station and jump starter this Black Friday
A dead car battery or a low tire always seems to happen at the worst time. If you want something reliable to keep in your trunk for those moments, the DEWALT DXAEJ14 Digital Portable Power Station Jump Starter is a practical pick—especially now that it’s on sale. It’s currently $109.55, down from a typical $129, giving you a sturdy, all-in-one roadside tool from a brand known for its durability.