Driving an Unplugged Performance Tesla Model S Plaid, Randy Pobst won the exhibition class at the 2021 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb event, posting a time of 6:57.220
After crashing and having to rebuild our Model 3 on the fly at last year’s Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, we had unfinished business in 2021. We were back to show the true potential of Tesla’s “Alien Technology” and out to win the Exhibition Class. This year, both our factory driver Randy Pobst and our Unplugged Performance racing team sought redemption at one of the toughest racing events on the calendar. Pikes peak takes a severe toll on any competitor with 156 unrelenting turns and a touch schedule, minimal testing and practice time and challenging weather. This year was no exception having battled through a slew of challenges in a short time with the Plaid platform we had the car ready to race on race day.
We are proud to say we did what we came to do winning the exhibition class of this year’s Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
The Unplugged Performance Tesla Model S Plaid posted a lap time of 6:57.220 on a weather-shortened course, winning the class by a substantial margin. Even more impressive is the average speed that Randy posted on the course, a whopping 80.159 mph (129.00km/h). In more relative terms, Randy drove the treacherous and highly challenging Pikes Peak at an average speed that’s above the speed limit on most world’s motorways, proving that the UP Model S Plaid is a force to be reckoned with.
Furthermore, the trap times for this run were 1:45.183 for the first, 1:45.183 for the second, and 2:50.836 for the final, third section of the climb. Overall, there were only nine cars faster than our Model S Plaid, further solidifying the effort, mostly purpose-built race cars including open-wheel formula-style vehicles.
Overall we are thrilled to demonstrate the potential of the platform and proud to continue development on this great new chassis. We will continue to be the innovator and the leader for Tesla performance worldwide. We’d like to thank our sponsors Bilstein, Braille Battery, and Yokohama first and foremost, but also, the entire Unplugged Performance racing team, our staff, all the fans, and everyone that supported us through this effort. However, the biggest thanks go to Tesla for making such an extraordinary machine, and to our beloved driver, Randy Pobst. Most importantly thank you to all of our fans and supporters who have been behind us all the way. Thank you all.
– Your Unplugged Performance Team
This year’s Pike Peak Hillclimb race is upon us and we’re ready to go! After last year’s crash, this year we intend to redeem ourselves in the clouds. With a brand new Unplugged Performance tuned Tesla Model S Plaid, Randy Pobst is aiming for a win at this challenging event. To allow our customers, fans, and friends a detailed view of what’s happening with the 2021 Unplugged Performance Pikes Peak team, below you’ll find a number of daily updates from this event. Everything from photos, reports, interesting tidbits to videos. Enjoy!
Unplugged Performance – 2021 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb Photo Gallery
6/27/2021 – Race Day
4800lbs, 1020hp, 14,000 feet, 140mph. No guard rails. Rain in the forecast and perhaps even snow.
We will wake up at 2 am and unleash Dark Helmet at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
6/26/2021 -Project Dark Helmet Intro Drift – UP Tesla Model S Plaid With Randy Pobst
Our longtime friend and driver Randy Pobst was enlisted to debut our Model S Plaid race car at Pikes Peak Hillclimb. During testing at Pikes Peak International Raceway this morning Randy found himself with some used Yokohama slicks end of the day. We felt these great tires deserved a proper send-off. Drifting ensued and tires were annihilated with 1020 Plaid horsepower. There is no more honorable tire death than Randy Pobst drifting in a Tesla Model S Plaid. As for the car … We call it Dark Helmet.
6/24/2021 – Pikes Peak International Hillclimb Qualifying Day – Randy Pobst Melts ICE With A Scorching First Place Run
Today Randy Pobst ran the lower section of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb establishing our qualifying time on the second day here at The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by Gran Turismo – With a sector time of 4:10.342 and a top speed of 140mph, Randy & our Unplugged Performance Model S Plaid qualified at the top of the exhibition class, leading the pack by over 5 seconds!
6/23/2021 – Morning Commute at 14,000ft
Randy Pobst tests the Unplugged Performance Model S Plaid through the upper section of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on the first day of Practice/Qualifying and wow! very speed!
6/20/2021 – Testing the Unplugged Performance Model S Plaid racecar
