Unplugged at Gridlife Laguna Seca: Two Teslas, Two Podiums

Описание: Last weekend, Unplugged Performance brought not one, but two Tesla race cars to Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca for the Gridlife Laguna Festival held on September 27-29. Gridlife Laguna is an event that combines motorsports, car culture, and music, offering a perfect setting to showcase the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) and connect with both Tesla and EV enthusiasts. As part of this growing revolution in performance tuning, events like Gridlife are ideal for exhibiting cutting-edge technology, showing that EVs can not only compete with traditional cars but also win, break records, and draw attention for their performance and innovation.

This year marked a first for Unplugged Performance, as we entered the event with two Tesla race cars: the renowned Model S Plaid 'Dark Helmet,' and a 2024 Model 3 Performance, known as 'Red Rocket.' Both vehicles were piloted by experienced driver Craig Coker, who has logged hundreds of hours in these cars and set numerous track records. While Dark Helmet is a dedicated race car, Red Rocket is a daily-driven family car that made the trip to Laguna Seca from Unplugged Performance’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California, raced all weekend, and drove home without incident—demonstrating the reliability of Unplugged Performance’s tuning for real-world use.

Both cars competed in Gridlife’s TrackBattle series, which features practice, qualifying, and the final Podium Sprint event. Dark Helmet entered the Unlimited class, where there are no limitations on tire, power, or aerodynamics. Despite fierce competition from highly modified cars like a Ford GT factory race car and a highly-modified, lightweight Nissan 350Z, Dark Helmet’s modifications were limited to bolt-on parts available to the public, such as Unplugged Performance's Superlight Carbon Ceramic Big Brake Kit and UP x Ohlins coilovers.

Meanwhile, Red Rocket competed in the Street GT class, a category for production cars with restrictions on tire width and factory aero components. The car, while unmodified in terms of power, utilized a variety of Unplugged Performance parts, including Race Pro coilovers and a Carbon-Ceramic Front Big Brake Kit. Red Rocket raced against powerful rivals like a 700hp Corvette and BMW M2s and M4s.

Friday’s practice session determined the lineup for subsequent sessions. For Teslas, managing battery thermals and strategic pacing is crucial. Although both cars faced challenges in the initial sessions, they showed progress throughout the event. Fog delayed racing on Day 2, but once qualifying was completed, Dark Helmet secured fourth place in its class, and Red Rocket earned second in its class. With confidence in their positions, Unplugged Performance opted to skip the last qualifying session to preserve the cars’ thermals for the final Podium Sprint.

In the Podium Sprint, drivers had two hot laps to set their best times. Dark Helmet finished third in the Unlimited class with a lap time of 1:28.465, while Red Rocket secured second place in the Street GT class, narrowly behind the Corvette but ahead of the BMWs. This result was significant not only for Tesla’s growing reputation in motorsports but also for the larger automotive industry, where the Model 3 Performance is often compared to high-performance internal combustion engine cars like those it raced against.

Overall, the event was a success for us, marking the first time they competed with two cars and achieving two podium finishes. Both cars used stock powertrains and primarily relied on bolt-on modifications, showcasing that Teslas, with minimal upgrades, can perform at a high level on the track. In the case of the Model 3, it was also likely one of the few cars to drive to and from the event on its own power without any issues.

Looking ahead, Unplugged Performance will continue competing in the Gridlife FCP Euro Championship, with upcoming events at Willow Springs and Thunderhill, where Dark Helmet has a strong chance to take the overall series championship. As the EV revolution continues, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what electric vehicles can achieve in motorsports while offering products that deliver both performance and reliability to the broader EV community.

All Model 3 Products from this video can be found here:
https://unpluggedperformance.com/mode...

All Model S Products from this video can be found here:
https://unpluggedperformance.com/mode...

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