No road regulations and no speed limits, just you, your daily driving and a race track, in a position to check your skills and the limits of your car. He climbs into the driver’s seat, fastens his seat belt, takes a deep breath and starts his Electric Vehicle Array. . .
That’s right, the landscape for enthusiasts is changing with the launch of the first set of time trials for Tesla owners in Australia.
Demonstrating their love of speed as their combustion engine counterparts, 12 Tesla owners amassed Monday at Sydney’s Luddenham Raceway to see what their electric cars are made of, with friendly competition.
Electric vehicle competitors included seven Model 3 Performances, one Model S 85, One Model S Long Range, One Model X 90D, two Model X Long Ranges, and Australia’s Model S P100D with a ”ridiculous mode”.
The eyes were focused on the acceleration of the high-end Model S P100D, which was able to beat a Lamborghini Aventador in a quarter-mile acceleration race, but the chat between spectators, obviously heard due to the lack of engine noise around the track. , was it: “And the corners?
Of course, being an electric vehicle, strength and maximum torque are available, but pushing two tons of five-door sedán into high-speed corners. . . this would possibly be where the fun of Tesla’s track could also take off.
Or will the all-wheel drive and “skateboard” configuration of the batteries (being in the middle of the car and as low as you can imagine) compensate for the Tesla’s weight disadvantage and produce a smart car on the track?
When returning to the seat at launch, there is no instant acceleration and movement of the Model 3 Performance organs, a basic requirement for on-piste fun. , this is a positive start to the runway electric vehicle campaign.
Now for the shifts. The Model 3 is strangely planted on the road in corners, even with road tyres and minimal rolling. This is thanks to the two-engine configuration that provides 4-wheel drive, but also thanks to its low center of gravity, because the maximum of its weight is placed low in the middle of the car.
But a Tesla will tell you when that’s enough. The 3 Performance style we were in heats up and disrupts quite quickly, restricting its performance after only a few laps and requiring several slower runs to regroup. In a 10-minute session, it’s far from an ideal track experience, however, the Model 3 Performance’s three-year generation may be to blame for the drawbacks.
This turns out to be the case, with the driving force of Supersprint and NSW Road Racing Club member Kieran Pardeep leading the time trial with a respectable 55. 7, in his Tesla Model 3 Performance 2020, with 335 kW and 640 Nm of torque and all-wheel drive. .
Tesla’s driving force for just one month, GT Falcon owner and V8 enthusiast said adapting to lack of engine noise and speeds is a challenge.
“Everyone was telling me I was driving a Tesla. At first, I hesitated because you don’t blow the engine and there’s some security when you know where you are in the formula and listen to it. But now I’m used to it, I love it,”” he says.
Now that it has been switched to EV, Pardeep is in favour of electric racing, but admits that motorsport categories are not yet convinced of their viability.
“I’ve been looking for electric cars for two years. I think it’s the future, whoever first accepts it and does it right will be the winner,” he said.
“Currently, if something happens, we can’t use electric cars quickly, so until we find a way to do it faster, there will be a setback. Give him another 12 months and I think maybe we’re there.
To hear what Tesla Owners’ Club President Mark Tipping thinks about electric vehicle racing, it was totally fitting to talk about it on our turn in his Model 3 Performance.
“We want to show the true strength of those amazing cars and let other people know what they look like,” he said.
“We need to run time trials in each and every state next year so owners have a chance to figure out what their cars can do. “
While Tesla owners must hit the track, its long run on the Australian motorsport scene still has problems to solve.
Tesla owner’s electric vehicle time trial series jointly organized with Stake.
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