Update: Click here to watch the full video of this EV record lap in the Model S Plaid.
Carmine’s Import Service was at the Virginia International Raceway Grand Course on Tuesday with its Tesla Model S Plaid, which set a new electric vehicle lap record, while on stock tires.
According to Carmine’s Import Service, they exclusively told Tesla North their Model S Plaid running showroom 300 treadwear tires set the new EV lap record with a time of 2:50:67. This beats the former record held by the 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S of 2:55:18, set at last year’s Car and Driver Lightning Lap.
“I have video we haven’t posted yet,” said Carmine’s Import Service, saying, “we beat the Taycan Turbo record by a lot. And only 3/10ths slower than the track focused and limited production [BMW] M5 CS that runs on 80 treadwear track tires.”
The very limited BMW M5 CS costs $142,995 USD. The Model S Plaid costs $140,490 USD.
The Model S Plaid had factory stock 21-inch Arachnids with street Michelin 4S 300 treadwear tires, said Carmine’s Import Service, noting the lap time of 2:50:67 was set on the Virginia International Raceway Grand Course Car and Driver Lightning Lap. The Grand Course stands 4.10 miles (6.76 km) in length.
Carmine’s Import Service also shared a picture of their stock tires after the Model S Plaid was done shredding the course—look at those sidewalls:
Earlier this month, Carmine’s Import Service and their Model S Plaid set the EV lap record at the Virginia International Raceway’s North Course, with a time of 1:39:5. The company also holds the EV lap record for the VIR full course, and with the latest Grand course record, that means three records held by this Model S Plaid.
The Model S Plaid was driven by Johan Schwartz, who has never driven an electric vehicle before, let alone a Tesla on the track, says Carmine’s Import Service. They also told Tesla North Car and Driver was “surprised” the Model S set the record on factory tires.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! CONGRATULATIONS TO CARMINE, JOHAN AND CARMINES IMPORT SERVICE ON A JOB WELL DONE!
Footnote: Car was modified with UP’s CCR front brake upgrade. Undisclosed if the recommended cooling mod was done. Can’t find any data on the laps before & after the posted time.
An updated story was shared yesterday, which shows the full lap video https://teslanorth.com/2022/03/17/watch-teslas-model-s-plaid-set-an-ev-record-at-car-and-drivers-lightning-lap-video/
Thank you. I can’t find info on the other laps that it did.
Carmine’s Import Service told Tesla North they ran lap times of 2:50.675 to 2.56 all day, according to transponders. They said the times will be uploaded online by host Kaizen Autosport. Would be interesting to see how the car would brake with Tesla’s full kit that is available for all four wheels, not just the front.
I’m surprised the tires could withstand multiple laps with that much power and weight. I’d like to know more, or if they changed tires. The full kit will be a little lighter but mean more consistency vs. braking distances, so it really comes down to the tires.
I did read they went offsite to charge, otherwise the top-end power reduction gets rather severe: .6 ET & 16mph trap speed drop at 20% SOC in the quarter mile, 2% SOC reduction per run.