This is not the usual drag race where the car’s ability is measured solely by how quick off the line it launches or how fast it reaches top speed etc. etc. — an autocross race gives us insight into a car’s handling agility and consistency in lap completion timings.
Although the Porsche 911 GT3 is built for performance racing from the ground up, the Tesla Model 3 compact electric sedan beats it in its own game — the 911 GT3 is 438 kg (1,547 lbs) lighter than the Model 3 Performance but even this edge couldn’t give it a win in a single lap out of three.
After the recent $2,000 price drop of the Tesla Model 3, one can buy three Model 3s for the price of a Porsche 911 GT3 and still perform better on a race track with a smile, let’s see a price and performance spec comparison summary of both cars before jumping to the video, surely this data will make the race more interesting to watch.
| Options/Features | Tesla Model 3 Performance | Porsche 911 GT3 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (MSRP) | $54,990 | $188,550 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive (AWD) | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Power | 490 hp | 500 hp |
| Torque | 660 Nm (Instant) | 460 Nm |
| Curb Weight | 1,847 kg (4,702 lbs) | 1,413 kg (3,155 lbs) |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.4 secs (source: Tesla Canada) | 3.9 secs (source: Porsche) |
| Top Speed | 162 mph (261 km/h) | 198.8 mph (320 km/h) |
| Transmission | Single-speed | 6-speed GT sports manual transmission |
| CO 2 Emissions | Zero | 290 g/km |
Lap Times / Results:
| # | Tesla Model 3 Performance | Porsche 911 GT3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56.6 secs | 68.0 secs (driver fault) |
| 2 | 56.0 secs | 58.0 secs |
| 3 | 55.1 secs | 57.0 secs |
Tesla Model 3 Performance’s performance stats are almost always consistent, this has also been seen in drag race results in the past, crunching out this much consistency out of an internal combustion engine (ICE) car is pretty much impossible.
Looking at the video above I am not sure if the Model 3 driver activated the ‘Track Mode’ but we can safely assume it was ON as the DragTimes host Brooks Weisblat is an experienced Tesla owner and enthusiast, whatever be the case, the Model 3 Performance totally crushed the 911 GT3 in autocross racing.
Being a native German automotive company, Porsche now has to re-think their future strategy since the Gigafactory Berlin is on a fast track of development and the German government is keen on enforcing more and more emissions standards in the near future, only the super-expensive Porsche Taycan will not be good enough to rival Tesla — the Tri-Motor Plaid Tesla Model S might get the attention of the most loyal Porsche fanboys even.
Former Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg arranged a drag race of the Tesla Model 3 Performance vs. Porsche 911 GT2 RS and to everyone’s shock, the Model 3 won that race and it’s not the first time a Model 3 is facing a Porsche 911, they both drag raced earlier this year in the UK.
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