Tesla Model S P100D passes FIA crash test… ahead of electric race series launch in March
The Electric Production Car Series kicks off this year with the one-make series running the Tesla Model S P100D… it has just passed its official crash test.
THE TESLA MODEL S P100D has been subjected to FIA sanctioned crash testing, and passed, ahead of the launch of the Electric Production Car Series which kicks off this year. There will be rounds held in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Portugal and France with more locations planned but not yet announced. The first round this year will be held in Portugal.
“Each “EGP” round will be a one-day event consisting of two races, with the grids for the first decided during a 60-minute qualifying session. With plenty of action both on and off the track, the opening event will be a weekend long festival celebrating technology, sustainability and innovation,” Electric GT Holdings said.
Up to 20 drivers will race the fully race-prepared Tesla Model S P100D in the Electric Production Car Series running on bespoke Pirelli tyres and equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and Alcon brakes. Rounds will consist of a 20-minute practice session, a 60-minute qualifying heat, a day race (60km) and a dusk race (60km).
During the crash test, the race car, equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment, experienced a frontal collision against a rigid barrier – a block of concrete that weighs 130 tonnes covered with a 19mm wooden plate – at a speed of 14m/s (50.4km/h).
“The car’s high-voltage battery was active and charged according to manufacturer and FIA instructions and had an 88kg dummy in the driver’s seat. The weight of the vehicle was 1720kg, representing the maximum race weight of the race car plus the weight of the dummy and a 25kg data acquisition system,” Electric GT said.
Electric GT Holdings CEO, Mark Gemmell said: “We are very pleased to have successfully passed our crash test. While there was no doubt as to the safety of the race car we have built, thorough safety testing is always a priority.
“The car performed very well during the collision. In many ways, it was worse for us than for the car, having to watch the destruction of a machine we have lovingly built throughout our development of the championship. We are very excited to go racing in 2018.”
