Tesla to launch 778bhp Model S at Electric GT

The Electric GT championship, featuring race-prepped Tesla Model S electric cars, will open at Silverstone on 12 August. The series will have seven races, with a provisional calendar released – see below.

The races will feature 20 cars, all of which will be a racing model called the P100DL, a modified version of a standard Model S. The 100kWh battery pack, the largest in motorsport, will allow 778bhp and 734lb ft of torque, which should mean a launch to 62mph in just 2.1sec.

The drivetrain is standard, but the whole car has shed 25% of its weight, so reliability and performance should both be high. A lot of the cabin has been stripped out, to be replaced by a full FIA roll cage. Weight is estimated to be 1600kg, about 525kg off the original weight.

The bodywork is new, made from a high-modulus carbon fibre, a very fibre-rich version of carbon fibre, and its shape will give significant downforce – 51kg over the nose, 92kg over the rear.

The races will consists of two 37-mile races on the day, with one during daylight, the other at dusk. Since the races get underway from a standing start, and since the cars will launch at least as fast as a Formula 1 car, that should be something well worth watching. And you’ll be able to watch, since each car will have a live feed, and the races will stream on YouTube, Periscope and Twitch.

2017 Electric GT race calendar (provisional):

12 August – Silverstone,  UK
2 September – Assen, Netherlands
23 September – Nürburgring DTM Circuit, Germany
TBC – Algarve, Portugal
28 October – Misano, Italy
18 November – Barcelona, Spain
25 November – Paul Ricard, France