Tesla's Model S record claim is hardly different than when companies such as Porsche, Lamborghini, and Chevrolet have touted Nrburgring Nordschleife lap times. Tesla didnt strip the interior or run a trick suspension setup, either; the car was wearing a set of Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires that will soon be available on the production model, and the ONLY MODIFICATION to the car was the installation of a racing bucket seat.". It's also faster than any published time recorded by a prototype Lucid Air, an electric sedan that ought to compete with Tesla's best once it actually goes on sale. ACCReplay: Get faster! Tesla claims Laguna Seca lap record, but what's under the hood? Another interesting thing that The Kilowatts spotted was an active rear wing on one of the Plaid (or maybe Plaid+) models running the track. [16], The Porsche 918 Spyder held the previous unofficial production car lap record with 1:29.89. This post has received too much negative feedback and is hidden. Unplugged Performance announced today on Twitter that the car set a lap time of 1:28.2 around California's Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca during a Tesla-only track day event. The earliest development of the local area occurred in 1867 with the founding of the nearby Laguna Seca Ranch, which has operated continuously for 140 years with grazing and equestrian uses.[5]. Finally got to try N Track Map and Lap Timer feature in EN. Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca was added in April's update and I was there on Sunday for the first time so I had to try out the N Track Map feature. broke the record again with a time of 1:30.3, with the Model S Plaid at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway, Lucid Air Dream Edition to hit production late this year, Watch Tesla Cybertruck Vs Tesla Semi Launches Side-By-Side In Texas, Devastating Price Difference: Hyundai Kona Electric Vs Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla To Offer Unlimited Overnight Charging For About $1 Per Day, Tesla Models Among EVs With Worst Predicted Reliability: Consumer Reports, Tesla's Next-Gen Electric Motors Will Get Rid Of Rare Earth Elements. REFUEL 11 featured time trials and events for electric vehicles and electric motorcycles in a competitive setting, while Tesla Corsa was, for many, an opportunity to meet up with other Tesla owners and enthusiasts who wished to experience the track with their electric cars. Just imagine what the C8 Corvette would be capable of if it had more power, larger tires, and bigger brakes. The electric sedans new lap record at Laguna Seca Raceway suggests that the CEOs words were accurate, as the vehicles 1:37.5 time bests that of far costlier performance cars, including the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, BMW M4 GTS, the Porsche 911, and the Aston Martin Vantage. [citation needed], "Laguna Seca Raceway: 40 Years Through the Corkscrew: 1957-1997" (David and Mary-Ellen Wright-Rana, 1997) ISBN0966024818. Over the last year, Tesla itself used Laguana Seca as a proving ground for early Model S Plaid prototypes At the time, they broke some records with a 1:30 lap. A variety of racing, exhibition and entertainment events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to American Le Mans racing to music festivals. Officially, Castroneves is still the record-holder as the times of Zonta, Bourdais and Gen were set during exhibition and testing sessions, and official records can only be set in race conditions (either in practice, qualifying, or during a race). It never overheated, unlike several Corvette Z06s that overheated after just a few laps during the same session, a notorious problem for the Z06. In a bid to compare real life versus video games, Jeremy Clarkson of the British automotive show Top Gear attempted to beat his Gran Turismo time of 1:41.148 in a Honda NSX by racing the real track in the same car in 2005. Back in April, he wasted no time taking the new C8 Corvette to the track. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Tesla's Model S Plaid is best known for its ridiculous straight-line acceleration, able to sprint from zero to 60 mph in under two seconds. "We recently set a new personal best while at Laguna Seca Raceway for #LucidAir chassis tuning and powertrain testing: An out-of-the-box lap time of 1: 31.3.". Of course, it helps that the Los Angeles, California-built 21C is a relatively lightweight machine, too, with a dry weight of 2,756 pounds. did you ever wonder, what sports cars are worth their price? Not too shabby for a car with three electric motors and a 2.8-kWh battery pack onboard. I have.so here I present to you all cars available for sale in 2020, that raced on laguna seca, and whether they deserve their price tag or not. The famous Turn 8 and 8A combination, popularly referred to as 'the Corkscrew', is considered one of the motorsport world's most challenging turns,[6][7] due to the 59ft (18m) drop in elevation as well as its blind crest and apex on the uphill approach.[6][7][8]. Both companies seem to be in the middle of a speed and performance war (not to mention the range war). With professional driver Randy Probst at the wheel, the battery-powered . The suspension alignment should be reproducible on any production version of that model, and all of the original equipment such as insulation, seats, glass, and air conditioning should be intact. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near Monterey, California, USA. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati). With oversight by a board of local residents, SCRAMP operates with a professional staff on-site with the goal of generating income through the operations of the racetrack which is then redistributed to local charities. Various clubs rent the track throughout the year for informal high-performance driving schools that allow the public to drive their own cars at speed. On July 17, 2018, IndyCar announced a return of IndyCars to Laguna Seca, with the event to be held the weekend of Sept. 2022, 2019. Buy now! Czinger 21C Laguna Seca Lap Record - Full Lap - YouTube We'll likely never know whether the record Model S is representative of what customers will be able to buy, or if it was meaningfully modified. Tesla Teased A Wireless Home Charging Solution On Investor Day, Rad Power Unveils The RadRunner 3 Plus Electric Utility Bike, Scout Motors Will Build Electric Trucks And SUVs In South Carolina, Ford Is Boosting Production Of Electric Vehicles In North America, 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV Review: Standing Out And Blending In, China: Tesla Model 3/Model Y Wholesale Sales Increased In February 2023. The track is featured in video games such as the Gran Turismo series (including the bike version Tourist Trophy), Forza Motorsport, and the MotoGP series. Good example of "diminishing returns" law, which we see almost in any kind of product or service - the most specialist, most well made or very best performing product will sometimes cost multiples more than nearest rival, even if value difference is negligable. Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. And Tesla's record is no more or less official than that of Jaguar, which formerly held the fast time for a four-door production car at Laguna Seca with the XE SV Project 8. At most race tracks, official lap records can only be set during sanctioned events with an officiating bodyin other words, during races and the practice and qualifying sessions that accompany them. In Spring 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation ceremonies took place at the raceway. It's worth noting that Everett's "record lap" is likely only a record because hardly anyone else has run a C8 Z51 at Laguna Seca yet, if anyone. https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/watch-teslas-1100-hp-model-s-plaid-trounce-the-corvette-c7-zr1s-laguna-seca-lap-time/, Quote>"Tesla posted an onboard video of the Model S Plaids Laguna Seca lap, and well spoil it right nowthis EV is wickedly fast. Recent Lap Records: Ferrari Just Set A New Lap Record At America's Most Famous Track Back to the 12C hypercar, in stock form, it delivers 1,250 horsepower (932 kilowatts) from its in-house. If you're used to watching quick cars around Laguna Seca, this clip's lack of sound might throw you off a bit. The Czinger 21C hybrid hypercar has set a new lap record at Laguna Seca with a time of 1:25:44. It should be noted that the Model 3 Performance is Teslas most affordable Performance vehicle in its lineup. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Several times each year, bicycles are permitted on the track for 2 hours. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It's worth noting Musk claimed the car had another few seconds in it, and promises it "will achieve the best track time of any production vehicle ever. Local schools participating included Carmel High School[95] (June 3, 2020) and Pacific Grove High School[96] (May 29, 2020). With a starting price of $58,900, the C8 Corvette's value for money cannot be understated. Czinger 21C Demolishes McLaren Senna's Lap Record In Laguna Seca By 2 McLaren Senna's Laguna Seca Lap Record Fallsto the Czinger 21C Tesla Model S Plaid Laguna Seca Lap Record Onboard Video - Road & Track Lucid Air 1,000 hp prototype (non-production, full roll cage, race tires): Tesla Model 3 Performance w/mods (December 2018 record): Lucid Air 1,000 hp prototype (non-production, full roll cage): Tesla Model S P100D w/mods: 1:45.2 (Refuel 2019). What is quite remarkable about the record-setting Model 3 is that the vehicle is a regular commuter car thats been upgraded with standard off-the-shelf Mountain Pass Performance parts that include an adjustable coilover suspension, upgraded control arms, improved brakes, and a second set of track tires. They are found underneath a road leading to the parking area for entrant trailers and RVs. For reference, according to Teslarati, the McLaren Senna has the fastest official lap time at the popular raceway, at 1:27.62. Remnants of the old configuration can still be seen from the parking lot between turns two and five. Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. If youlike uskeep track of lap-time records at the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, then you surely know the crown for the quickest production-car lap around the more than 60-year-old circuit now rests on the roof of a new contender. Each year features a different marque. Yes, I know its stupid to compare lap time from a racing sim and real life! Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. Dark Helmet was driven by @RandyPobst to a 1:28.2 at TeslaCorsa 16!For reference fastest production car record is a McLaren Senna with a 1:27.6. The track day wasn't without incident, however, as a driver lost control of a Ferrari 488 GT3 and veered off track, damaging the front end. The name Laguna Seca is Spanish for dry lagoon: the area where the track now lies was once a lake, and the course was built around the dry lake bed. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. That's right, raise a toast to, piloted around the approximately 2.2-mile course in 1 minute, 25.44 seconds. Our car experts choose every product we feature. The vehicle should make the same power and torque as production models and wear tires that are available from the factory. Modified Tesla Model S Plaid Sets EV Lap Record at Laguna Seca Hamilton Believes Mercedes Is "a Long Way Off", Road to Revival Tours England's Motoring Best, The New Aston Martin F1 Car Might Actually Be Fast, Lance Stroll Will Be Back for the Bahrain GP, This Tesla Model S Plaid Is Faster Than a Porsche 911 GT2 RS Around Laguna Seca. Ashmead Remembered With Lap At Daytona - SuperbikePlanet To put a 1:30.3 lap in perspective, it's just a few seconds shy of the McLaren Senna, which set a production car record of 1:27.62 when Motor Trend had it at the track. The lap was also six seconds faster . Driver Randy Pobst piloted the unmodified McLaren to a 1:27.62 lap time during MotorTrend's 2019 best driver car award testing. Not too shabby for a car with three electric motors and a 2.8-kWh battery pack onboard. [14], The 2019 McLaren Senna holds the current production car lap record. US orders only. Just a few days ago, a race-modified Tesla Model S Plaid set a new record for an electric vehicle on the same track. Speaking of the driver, this is apparently well-known YouTuber Sebastian Vittel (not to be confused with F1 driver Sebastian Vettel) behind the wheel. (Photo: Tom Cross/Teslarati), What is quite remarkable about the record-setting Model 3 is that the vehicle is a regular commuter car thats been upgraded with standard off-the-shelf, Tesla Model 3 Performance shatters all-time EV lap record at Laguna Seca, Tesla (TSLA) sets new records with 95k deliveries, 87k production in Q2 2019, Tesla Model 3 sets new benchmark for safety in Euro NCAP crash tests. Dodge Viper ACR Sets Lap Records at 13 Racetracks - Road & Track That lap time puts the Tesla just six tenths of a second off the McLaren Senna, the fastest production car to ever lap the iconic circuit, and beats the lap time set by a 700-hp Porsche 911 GT2 RS by one tenthall of those times set by Pobst. For cars there are other strong factors that affect price - for example, Porsche 911 GT2 RS has very high collector appeal and you have to pay huge exclusivity premium on top of what you would expect to pay for the high performance. The Kilowatts has a knack for getting juicy Tesla photos, video, and information. A Tesla Model 3 Performance achieved the unthinkable over the past weekend when it shattered the all-time electric vehicle lap record at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. The 1:30.3 time puts the Model S Plaid around three seconds behind the McLaren Senna, which currently holds Laguna Seca's overall production car lap record. A 2015 study by California State University, Monterey Bay and commissioned by SCRAMP states that the raceway generated $62.1 million (2015 USD) to the Monterey County economy and $5.2 million in state and local taxes.[10]. The vehicles owner, Cameron Rogers, who also previously held the production EV lap record at Laguna Seca, uses the vehicle to get to and from work on a daily basis. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a28470fe94a52b9 Laguna Seca marketing and communications director Art Michalik made that point clear in an email to Car and Driver. All rights reserved. 2019 Best Driver's Car Day 3-5: Lap Laguna Seca/Relap - MotorTrend It was also used in 1976 for the film Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo as a qualifying track. Did a Tesla Model S Really Set a Lap Record? Tesla released a video showing a Model S running a 1:36.6 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which would be a production-four-door lap record. Previously, the sponsorship belonged to Mazda for 17 years with the track being known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. This lap time, achieved with driver Joel Miller behind the wheel, is more than two . Watch Tesla Model S Plaid Record Lap At Laguna Seca - Motor1.com However, as shared at Tesla's Battery Day, the 1,100-horsepower Model S Plaid has been back at the Laguna Seca track, and it shaved its time down to 1:30.3, which is only 2 seconds slower than the . Dodge returned to the famed circuit and recaptured the production car lap record with a time . 1. The fastest official all-time track record set during a race weekend is 1:07.722, set by Hlio Castroneves during qualifying for the 2000 Shell 300 Monterey Grand Prix. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca - Wikipedia On August 20, 2006, Toyota F1 test driver Ricardo Zonta set an unofficial lap record of 1:06.309. The car's driver, IMSA racing driver Johannes van Overbeek, says in the video's description the car was on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with a specifically developed compound that'll become available once the car is released. Elon Musk's Tesla Model S claim raises the question: What's a lap record, anyway? The previous record was held by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS with a time of 1:28.30 (also driven by Randy Pobst). During Tesla's "Battery Day" event earlier this week, CEO Elon Musk dropped a bombshell: The reveal of a new Model S "Plaid" trim, complete with three electric motors, real aerodynamics, and a claimed 1100 horsepower.