Pikes Peak: Tesla Model S Plaid Fastest Again In Exhibition Class

The racing version noted one of the best times overall in the Lower Section of qualifying.

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Jun 24, 2021 at 8:19am ET

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During the second day of practice ahead of the 2021 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race, the Unplugged Performance Tesla Model S Plaid once again was the fastest car in the Exhibition class.

The time of 04:10.342 in the Lower Section was not only 5 seconds better than the next contender (Model 3) in its class, but also one of the best overall (see the table here).

Report from the first day of testing.

Unplugged Performance notes also that the top speed in the sector was 140 mph (225 km/h).

Driver Randy Pobst explains that the team was working hard on several issues to tune the car for the race on Sunday, June 27. There is still potential to go quicker. Two more days of testing are left: June 24 and June 25.

"Day 3 in the @Unplugged Performance Tesla Model S Plaid. We had some great runs! A couple things to figure out, but over all a beautiful day. Come ride along and sit in the driver's seat with the man himself, Randy Pobst as he qualifies 1st in class on the bottom section of America's mountain Pikes Peak."

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There are two Tesla Model 3 in the Exhibition class as well, and interestingly, one of them was second best, with a 5-second gap to the Model S Plaid:

2018 Tesla Model 3 (#90, Daijiro Yoshihara) - 04:15.653
2021 Tesla Model 3 (#88, Joshua Allan) - 04:33.940

Tesla Model S Plaid specs

up to 390 miles (628 km) of EPA est. range
battery capacity: N/A
0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 1.99 seconds (*with rollout subtracted)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.1 seconds (*with rollout subtracted)
MotorTrend's 0-60 mph (asphalt, no rollout): 2.28 seconds
1/4 mile 9.23 seconds at 155 mph trap speed
Jay Leno's 1/4 mile record of 9.247 seconds at 152.16 mph trap speed
top speed of 200 mph (322 km) †when equipped with the proper wheels and tires (available fall 2021)
three-motor all-wheel drive (one motor in the front and two motors in the rear)
system output: 1,020 hp (about 760 kW)
DC fast charging: at up to 250 kW (Superchargers)
can replenish 187 miles (301 km) in 15 minutes
Drag Coefficient 0.208 Cd
Wheels 19" or 21"
Cargo 28 cu ft
Weight 4,766 lbs (2,162 kg)