EV Beats Ferrari Off the Mark
Electric gained the upper hand against petrol, at least initially, in a drag race at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell yesterday.
A Tesla Model X electric vehicle (right) surged ahead at the beginning of a race against a Ferrari 488 (left), the Ferrari only catching up later in the race.
[Otago Daily Times - 10 September 2018]
[Photo Simon Henderson]
A Tesla Model X electric vehicle (right) surged ahead at the beginning of a race against a Ferrari 488 (left), the Ferrari only catching up later in the race.
Professional driver Andrew Waite (left) was behind the wheel of the Tesla as it zoomed ahead the Ferrari driven by professional driver Matt Gibson (right) at the start.
"It is quite a surprise, just how quickly it takes off, but then you can see the Ferrari coming back at you once the speed does start get going," Waite said.
Driving the Ferrari, professional Matt Gibson (right) said it changed how he viewed electric vehicles.
"I knew the Tesla was a fast vehicle, but to see it race against one of the fastest supercars, it really surprised me and it is not what I expected."
The race was a "friendly" rather than a true timed competition and was part of "The Hare and the Turtle", an event jointly organised by Flip the Fleet and the Otago EV Society.
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