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When Tesla unveiled its new Plaid Model S earlier this month, it took the world by storm, sparking dreams of speed, racing and fun. Meaning the grand finale of the Tesla event, another event was talked about in the following weeks. This event was the annual race for the Pikes Peak Summit. Also known as “The Race to the Clouds,” the entire trail runs through 156 turns of more than 1,242 miles when it reaches the top of Pikes Peak.
This year, the track had to be shortened due to snow, but this did not prevent the newcomer from participating and winning the exhibition category. That winner is a Tesla Plaid Model S. With Randy Pobst in the driver’s seat of the modified electric car, the time for the Plaid Model S to reach the finish line from the base of the mountain was 6:57.2.
6:57.2 To win at @PPIHC @Tesla Plaid Alien Technology has been armed by UP! Thanks to the Tesla community for your support! Thanks to our hero RandyPobst and thanks to our sponsors @bilsteinUSYokohamaTCBrailleBattery the era of ICE is over. pic.twitter.com/vekjqusm3V
– Offline Performance (UnpluggedTesla) Jun 27, 2021
Out of Spec Studios shared a video of Randy Bobst getting out of the car at the top of Pikes Peak. It’s been a good ride,” said Bobst, smiling. “We ran really well. Lots of power, and it took all the Yokohama leftovers had to offer, let me tell you. We made a small change to the sway bar to try to balance that better. I’m really glad we did. The brakes were fine, the suspension was great” .
Thoughts by @RandyPobst coming out of @UnpluggedTesla #ModelS #Plaid at the top of #PikesPeak after turning it on #PPIHC2021 #PPIHC pic.twitter.com/TcPDNE0o3N
– Out of Spec Studios (@Out_of_Spec) Jun 27, 2021
I spoke with the team at Unplugged Performance in a Twitter message and they shared their excitement.
“The UP Tesla Model S Plaid surprised a lot of people today by posting crazy times that often outperform non-production, purpose-built racing cars. For a 4,800-pound electric family sedan, defeating pure Pikes Peak-built race cars is a breeze. In open wheel and unlimited class is an amazing result. Plaid outperformed 45 cars out of 55 including the LMP3 race car.”
Image by Unplugged Performance, used with permission
“No one expects us to be faster than that.”
Not only did the Tesla Model S Plaid win, Unplugged Performance won its class by a huge margin and beat some cars built to win. The following list shows the time of the drivers, starting with Pobst.
Randy Bobst 2021 Tesla Model S Blade, 6: 57.220 Nick Robinson; 2017 Acura NSX, 7: 14.704 Jordanian Guitar; 2021 Acura TLX, 7: 53.615. Gregoire Blachon 2021 VW Bug Proto TRI-TDI Diesel, 7:58.661 Joshua Allen; 2021 Tesla Model 3, 8: 16.778; Johann Schwartz; 2021 American X Kart Cross Kart, 8:29.589 Sean Bassett; 1974 Datsun 240Z, 9:19.475 Daijiro Yoshihara; 2018 Tesla Model 3; 11: 41.162
Image by Unplugged Performance, used with permission
The other two Teslas cars in the race may not perform as well as the Model S Plaid, but all three are a great representation because the EVs are excellent performance vehicles.
Also remember that last year, two-time Pikes Peak winner Blake Fuller set a new electric car record in Tesla Model 3 performance, and Randy Pobst was just two seconds behind him:
Not only was this 2021 result a win for the team at Unplugged Performance and Randy Pobst, but it’s also another win for Tesla, electric cars, and those championing clean energy. May Musk often says, “Clean energy will win,” and today at Pikes Peak, Tesla’s all-electric, zero-emissions car won the show class.
This is also the first time a Tesla Plaid Model S has officially participated in the race – and the first of many, no doubt.
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