Tesla’s Electric GT Championship turns into a much faster race with shift to P100D

In racing, driving a quicker and lighter car doesn’t always result in a win. However, such a car definitely has some advantages over other competitors. This could be the reason why the Electric GT Championship is changing the base car from the Tesla Model S P85+ to Tesla Model S P100.

When the Electric GT World Series was announced in March 2016, organizer Electric GT Holding Inc. also disclosed that it has chosen the Tesla Motors S P85+ as a base model for the 10 teams bound to enter the event in its 2017 inaugural season.

Agustin Paya, Technical Director for Electric GT Holdings, remarked back then that the Tesla model S was chosen because of its impressive circuit racing potential with its power, acceleration, weight distribution and low center of gravity as well as superb cornering speed. The race-bound Model S P85+ would race with the same powertrain, battery and programming as the one available for the market, although it has received modifications with regards to braking, aerodynamics, suspension and cooling, as well as steering and overall weight.

However, it should be noted that since Tesla launched the Tesla Model S P85+, the electric carmaker has also released three succeeding models with more power, including the P100D. For instance, the Tesla Model S P85+ comes with an 85 kWh battery and could dish out 416 hp of output and 443 lb.-ft. (601 Nm) of torque, allowing it to sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. Pretty powerful indeed!

However, the Tesla Model S P100D offers a much better performance. Featuring two motors – one on the front and another on the rear – the Tesla Model S P100D offers 760 hp (567 kW) of max output from a 100-kWh battery pack. In terms of acceleration, the Tesla Model S could dash from nil to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, allowing it to claim the title as the quickest production car in the world. An upcoming update will cut down that time further to 2.4 seconds.

With those amazing figures, it only makes sense for the Electric GT Championship to employ the top-of-the-range Tesla Model S P100D as its V2.0 racer. Just like the plan for the Model S P85+ racer, the Model S P100D will compete with a stock engine and battery, with some modifications – aerodynamics, racing brakes, racing suspension, Pirelli tires, steering and overall weight -- made to make it suitable for racing. It should be faster and quicker than a non-customized Model S P100D – partly thanks to it being around 500 kg lighter.

The inaugural season of the Electric GT 2017 World Series will have seven races in world class circuits like Barcelona­Catalunya, Donnigton Park, Mugello, Nurburgring, Assen, Estoril and Madrid Jarama. The race will involve 10 teams and 20 drivers competing, with a race weekend consisting of a 20-minute practice session, a 30-minute qualifying session and two races (dawn and dusk) each spanning 60 km. Three non-championship events are also planned in the Americas.