Summary
- Unplugged Performance’s Tesla Model S Plaid and Model 3 Performance achieved a double podium finish at the Gridlife Laguna Festival.
- Both vehicles competed in Gridlife’s TrackBattle series, with the Plaid in the Unlimited Class and the Model 3 in the Street GT Class.
- The Model 3 is suitable for daily driving and was driven by the Unplugged team to the event, while the Model S was transported on a trailer.
- Despite challenges like spinning out, both Teslas qualified for the podium sprint, setting records in their respective classes.
- Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Schaffer praised the team for their achievements and revealed plans for the upcoming race at Thunderhill.
Article
Unplugged Performance’s Tesla Model S Plaid and reengineered Model 3 Performance achieved a rare double podium finish at the Gridlife Laguna Festival held at the Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. The event had few electric vehicles participating, with both Teslas competing in the TrackBattle series, showcasing their performance capabilities in different classes. Despite being built differently from traditional race cars, the Teslas performed exceptionally well, with the Model S Plaid known as Dark Helmet competing in the Unlimited Class and the Model S Performance named Red Rocket competing in the Street GT Class.
The unique Tesla racers from Unplugged Performance feature modifications that are not typically seen in vehicles built for racing events. Dark Helmet, with aggressive aero and a stripped-out interior, still maintains a stock drivetrain, battery, and software from Tesla. Red Rocket, on the other hand, is a reengineered Model 3 Performance with modifications from Unplugged Performance’s Ascension-R parts. Despite their racing capabilities, Red Rocket is easily daily driven and was even driven by the team to the event, showcasing the versatility of Unplugged Performance’s upgrades for everyday use.
Both Tesla vehicles qualified for the podium sprint in their classes at the Gridlife event, setting impressive lap times and breaking records in their respective classes. Despite facing challenges such as spinning out during a lap, Dark Helmet and Red Rocket showcased their performance capabilities and ultimately placed third and second overall in the Unlimited Class and Street GT Class, respectively. The achievements of the Unplugged Performance team at Gridlife Laguna impressed many, highlighting the consistent record-setting and podium finishes that the Teslas have achieved.
Unplugged Performance CEO Ben Schaffer praised the performance of the twin Teslas at the event, emphasizing their reliability and success against a competitive field of ICE vehicles and drivers. With the Gridlife Laguna event concluded, the team is now preparing for the upcoming race at Thunderhill and remains focused on securing more podium finishes. The team’s success at Gridlife has positioned them well in the points standings for the FCP Euro Pacific Championship, with the opportunity to potentially win the inaugural championship, a significant accomplishment for an EV in the world of motorsports.
The strong performance of the Unplugged Performance Tesla Model S Plaid and Model 3 Performance at the Gridlife Laguna event has challenged the perception of what is possible for production cars in the automotive racing world. These Teslas, enhanced by bolt-on parts from Unplugged Performance, have proven to be competitive against the fastest ICE vehicles on the track, showcasing the capabilities of electric vehicles in motorsports. The team’s success at Gridlife and their pursuit of future victories demonstrate the evolving landscape of automotive racing and the increasing presence of electric vehicles in competitive events.
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