The modified Tesla Model S Plaid by Unplugged Performance has achieved another milestone, a new lap record for an electric vehicle on the Laguna Seca Raceway. The Unplugged Model S Plaid completed the lap in 1:28.213, a new record for an EV.
When Tesla created the first prototypes of the Tri-Motor Model S Plaid back in 2019, the Silicon Valley-based automaker took one of them to the Laguna Seca Raceway. At the time this early prototype of the Plaid Model S completed the lap in 1:36.555.
Comparing it to the latest record of Randy Pobst with the Unplugged Performance Plaid Model S, the lap time improvement seems paramount with an entire 8 seconds shoved off the race circuit completion time.
Achieving the 1:28.213 Laguna Seca lap time in the UP Model S Plaid, Randy Pobst came close to his own record of 1:27.62 he scored in a McLaren Senna (P15) in 2019.
Now the Model S Plaid record stands at 7th position of all-time records (post-1988) beating Randy’s another record of 1:28.30 in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS at the Seca.
The closest another driver came to the Unplugged Model S Plaid in this race was able to complete the lap in 1:35.670 — more than a 7 seconds difference, amazing.
Overall improvements including newly designed motors with the carbon-fiber-wrapped rotors, addition of the heat pump, and the radiator has taken the performance of the Plaid Model S on par with the ICE hypercars.
Because of the newly gained abilities of performance repeatability and enhanced endurance to heat and cold, the same Unplugged Model S Plaid was able to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb last month.
Tesla Model S Plaid is also gaining popularity in the drag race community. Just recently a Porsche Taycan Turbo S owner ordered a Model S Plaid after getting defeated at the dragstrip.
Let’s watch Randy Pobst’s legendary driving skills combined with the Unplugged Performance Model S Plaid handle the Laguna Seca Corkscrew and Andretti Hairpin turns like a boss (see circuit diagram above for reference).
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