The Tesla Model S P85+ has been chosen for the one-make (for now) Electric GT World Series which will kick off in 2017.

THE ELECTRIC GT WORLD SERIES kicks off in 2017 with the Tesla Model S P85+ (which ended production in 2014) chosen as the base model vehicle for the 10 team, 20 car series that will compete on iconic tracks around the world, so the organises, Electric GT holdings say. Currently the company is in discussion with tracks, including Barcelona, Estoril and Donnington in the UK.

The plan is to launch the series in Europe, before expanding to the US and Asia and possibly even Australia. There will be seven races in 2017.

With the interest in Formula E growing around the world, event organisers, Mark Gemmel and Agustín Payá at Electric GT Holdings said they wanted to move from a series of electric car exhibitions they’d planned for race series and launch into a fully-fledged series.

“It all started with our desire to accelerate the change of sustainable mobility that will allow us to finally end the fossil fuel age,” CEO at Electric GT Holdings, Mark Gemmel said.

“It was at the Monaco ePrix last year that we decided to move beyond the exhibitions we where planning and to investigate seriously the possibility of creating a new zero emissions motorsport category.

“The Electric GT Executive team and myself all share the firm belief that it is about time we let everybody know there is a way out of the fossil fuel economy.”

“What promoters of Formula E are doing to spread the word about sustainable mobility is just fantastic. And my admiration and recognition for Elon Musk and everything that Tesla Motors does for the development of sustainable mobility drove me to consider the possibility of creating a championship with the Model S as a promotional platform for technology innovation, sustainable development and fossil fuel divestment. But it was when Agustín and our technical team confirmed that the model S is more than suitable for GT racing that I decided to go global with a brand new motor sport category.”

In terms of the Teslas being used, the 10 teams and 20 cars will be virtually identical meaning it will be the driver’s skill that will make the difference. All vehicles will have to comply to FIA safety standards, with the organisers devising a one-size-fits-all set-up for the Model S P85+, with slight tweaks to brakes, suspending, aerodynamics for improved high speed grip, cooling and steering. It’s also aiming to reduce the sprung weight of the vehicles. Beyond that, the powertrain, battery, and programming, is original manufacturer specification.

“We have been testing the car already on the Barcelona Catalunya F1 Circuit as well as the legendary Madrid Jarama circuit, both of which are being used as test and operations centers,” said technical director,” Agustín Payá.

Why the Tesla? “We chose the Tesla Model S as it is a fantastic 100% electric high performance vehicle in mass production for the world market, but we encourage and welcome every car maker to join the Electric GT World Series. It would be fantastic to see other electric supercar manufacturers join the Electric GT World Series,” said Payá.

With other manufactures announcing the production of all-electric performance cars, like Porsche and Aston Martin, this could become a very exciting race series indeed.