New EV Race Series Charges Ahead with Tesla Model S

Newly formed Electric GT Holdings Inc. plans to launch a new race series for production electric vehicles next year, starting with a field of Tesla Motor Inc.'s out-of-production Model S P85+ performance sedans.

The organizers—led by Formula One driver Augustin Paya and entrepreneur Mark Gemmell—hope to line up 10 teams to compete in the new circuit, which will be called the Electric GT World Series. The inaugural season is expected to include seven races, the bulk of which will be held on closed tracks in Europe.

This would differ from the 2-year-old Formula E Championship circuit, which races prototype EVs on street courses.

The new series hasn’t been officially sanctioned yet. But Paya says the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) and the Royal Spanish Motorsport Federation are providing some unspecified support.

The Model S P85+, which Tesla stopped producing in 2014, was chosen for its power and driving range. The car generates 416 hp and can travel as far as 240 miles between charges.

Teams will be allowed to modify the car’s suspension, braking, cooling and steering systems as well as make aerodynamic tweaks. There also will be some weight reductions, such as removing much of the interior. But the battery pack, electric motor, power electronics and software programming will be stock.

Paya says other high-performance EVs will be allowed to compete as they become available.