Modified Tesla Model S Plaid ‘Dark Helmet’ Takes Laguna Seca EV Lap Record!
Only beaten by less than a second by the McLaren Senna for the overall record, Unplugged Performance has created one of the fastest EVs ever.
When the Tesla Model S was released back in 2012, many first-timers were smitten by the experience of instant torque. When we thought that experience couldn’t get any wilder, Tesla hit us with the 920 ft/lb-pushing P100D with “Ludicrous Mode”.
However, not even that was enough, and thus was the introduction of Plaid this year with 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 ft/lbs of torque. Time and time again Tesla has outlived our expectations of its vehicles.
A company that realized the performance potential of the Model S platform from the start is Unplugged Performance. Creating performance products for Tesla vehicles has been the heart of their focus since 2013.
When the Plaid update for the Model S was released, they decided to have a crack at making it even faster. Guess what, they succeed and broke a lot of records while doing it!
The electric motorsport dream team
Part of this success must be credited to Unplugged Performance’s star talent behind the wheel, motorsports legend, Randy Pobst. Now age 64, he undoubtedly remains one of the fastest drivers alive even with decades into his professional career.
Pobst recently hustled Unplugged Peformance’s Plaid project, known as “Dark Helmet” (yes, we are serious), to a impressive class win at the infamous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb earlier this year.
Breaking records and shaming motorsport legends in the process
Now, that same vehicle has gone on to set the fastest overall time for an EV and second fastest time overall for a production vehicle (1:28.2) at the iconic California race track, Laguna Seca. Let’s put into perspective how impressive that is.
The fastest outright time by a production car is set by the ultra-exclusive motorsport-focused McLaren Senna at 1:27.6. Dark Helmet, although technically a modified production car, was less than a full second off that pace.
The 2nd place spot originally was reserved for another limited-production rarity, the Porsche 991 GT2 RS. The German motorsport machine was edged out by the Model S by just a tenth of a second.
We know for a fact that these lap times are legit, even though they may seem hard to believe. This is because the man behind the wheel was the same for all three records: Randy Pobst (yes, he is that legendary).
No drivetrain modifications, just brakes, aero, and suspension
So what exactly makes Dark Helmet stand out from a standard Model S Plaid and thus achieve these stunning results? Well, Unplugged Performance leaves the powertrain alone and focuses on everything else.
First glance will reveal the most obvious assistance: aerodynamics. Gracing the project is a massive one-off rear wing, front splitter and front brake ducts, all built to gain that extra tenth around the corner.
However, the car also has a host of suspension upgrades as well as light wheels with Yokohama slicks. Even with some serious weight reduction, the Plaid still comes in at 4850 pounds with the driver.
It’s stunning that a 4-door sedan that weighs that much can keep up and even beat out 7-figure hypercars at their own game. Anybody who doubts the performance potential of electric chassis need look no further.