Watch: Tesla Model S Plaid rec

Tesla Model S Plaid Track Package on the Nurburgring. Picture: Tesla.

Watch: Tesla Model S Plaid reclaims production EV lap record at Nurburgring

Ten months after losing it to Porsche, the Tesla Model S Plaid Track Package is back on top.

Watch: Tesla Model S Plaid rec

Tesla Model S Plaid Track Package on the Nurburgring. Picture: Tesla.

Nurburgring lap records are important to carmakers, no matter the category. But none more than for South African-born entrepreneur and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, who set the ambitious goal for the EV car producer to hold the record as far back in 2021.

So, when Tesla lost the coveted prize to the Porsche Taycan Turbo S ten months ago, Musk and the Californian firm immediately set to work on building a quicker Tesla Model S Plaid. They call it the Track Package.

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It reclaimed the EV lap record last week, Friday June 2nd, with a benchmark time of 7:25.23, which is eight seconds quicker than the Porsche. “Congrats Tesla Plaid racing team!” CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Saturday.

TESLA MODEL S PLAID: WHAT’S UPGRADED

But what were the latest changes to bring it up to speed? Specifically, new tyres and brakes capable of handling the claimed upgraded top speed of 320 km/h (upped from 280 km/h). These are lighter 20-inch ‘Zero-G’ forged aluminium wheels with track-oriented Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tyres and 410 mm carbon-silicon brake discs with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, and improved brake pads and fluid.

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In the video you’ll see the Tesla hitting speeds of 290 km/h down the backstraight which shaved off valuable lap time. Interestingly, the Tesla Model S Plaid is now the second-fastest four-door to lap the German circuit, trailing a 7:23.164 sec lap set by the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 sedan set in 2019.

THIS WILL KEEP RUNNING

This is an exchange of lap times that’s likely to run and run, as Tesla and Porsche have been fighting like cats and dogs on the Nurburgring to hold the production EV record. First Porsche held it in 2019 with the Taycan. In 2021, the Model S Plaid shaved off seven seconds from the Taycan’s benchmark. To which Porsche responded by going two seconds quicker and taking back the crown with the Taycan Turbo S.

“We’re trying to get to the low-7-minute mark on the Nurburgring. And then, with further improvements, I think we could bust 7 minutes, which would be a pretty wicked act on its own,”

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO.

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