Electric GT's Tesla Model S racecar does 0-100 in 2.1 seconds

7 years, 10 months ago - 18 January 2017, Autoblog
Electric GT's Tesla Model S racecar does 0-100 in 2.1 seconds
Last year, organizers announced the Electric GT Championship, a one-make race series using the Tesla Model S.

Between that announcement and the still-to-come inaugural race, a lot has happened. First, they unveiled their P85D racecar. News came that Leilani Münter joined the series as a driver, and Formula One veteran Karun Chandhok heaped praise upon the development car. Also, Tesla released its ludicrously quick P100D variant, and Electric GT announced it would make the switch to, and modify, the quickest version of the Model S for the series. Now, race organizers have divulged more details about its Tesla Model S P100D racer and the championship.

At Autosport International 2017 in Birmingham, UK, Electric GT Championship confirmed its race-prepped Tesla provides 778 horsepower and 734 pound-feet of torque, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 2.1 seconds. EGT showed off the car at the show's Live Action Arena, proving that EVs can produce emissions in the form of huge clouds of tire smoke.

The Electric GT racer drops 1,100 pounds compared to the stock Model S, and gains a racing suspension and brakes, and Pirelli PZero slicks for a dry track, and Pirelli wet tires for the rain. Ten teams of two drivers will compete in seven European races, plus three non-championship races in the Americas. In Europe, the circuits include Catalunya, Formula E's home track of Donington Park, Estoril, Assen, Mugello, Paul Ricard, and the Nürburgring's GP course. Each round will include a 20-minute practice session, 30 minutes of qualifying, and short daytime and dusk races, each about 37 miles in length. The series launches on Ibiza on September 27.

Confirmed drivers so far include Jeroen Bleekemolen, Kevin Ceccon, Dani Clos, Tom Coronel, Stephen Cox, Emma Kimiläinen, Leilani Münter, Tom Onslow-Cole, Vicky Piria, Alice Powell, Ricardo Teixeira, Oliver Webb, and Stefan Wilson.