Updated Throttle house Times
 

Holds up well considering it's price. Wonder how the C8 Z06 is gonna do. I'm surprised the M5 CS beat the M2 CS.

Yep, and where the heck is the Mach 1? Ha.

I love that show, lol.

IIRC, Ford wouldn't let them do timed laps in the Mach 1.

Nigel

The Tesla Plaid ran a 1:12:50 with Thomas at the wheel, which slots it about 1 second behind the SS 1LE. The car is "dangerously underbraked", as they say.

Makes sense. A 5000lbs rocket which has enough energy to launch to 60 in 2s flat, but with same brakes as any other 3700lb car. I foresee a lot of crashes in this thing’s future. If you can afford a $150k car, you likely have high expectations in the braking department. This car will surprise. In a bad way.

Less than half a second difference between ZLE and SS 1LE?? Hard to believe.

These guys aren't professional drivers and a lot of the cars they test are used cars that someone else owns. We don't know the condition of the tires on them.

This was the first review of the plaid i've seen, that actually detailed the driving rather than other reviews that focus entirely on the acceleration experience. He says in the video he only got one good lap due to the brakes. Makes me wonder how's there's a decent ring time for the plaid. Maybe the ring time was with one that wasn't stock? Or maybe the plaid is the review had brake issues?

It is a small tight track and weather conditions may have been more favorable for the SS 1LE since cars are tested throughout the year whenever they become available for a review.

Maybe there are enough high speed areas between heavy braking zones to cool the brakes enough for one flying Nurburgring lap? For comparison, the Throttle House track is very short probably with little opportunity for cooling the brakes.

Throttle House also didn't mention their regen braking setting used but I believe Teslas offer different choices, some of which may take some of the load off of the traditional braking system.

EDIT: Apparently the low regen option was removed around June 2020 leaving all new Teslas with standard as the only regen option but The Drive mentioned it being adjustable in their recent Model S Plaid review so idk.

https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/...86743720251394

https://youtu.be/em4I4V-AvBo

If I remember correctly the stiff suspension on that bumpy track held it back a bit.

I think you're right, didn't think about how a short tight road course doesn't have much opportunity to cool the brakes like the Nurburgring.

And i'm not sure i'm right in thinking the plaid ring time is that great. I mean it got 7:36. This is a car with a much better power to weight ratio than a Zl1 1le, pulls +1g on the skid pad, yet the Zl1 1le gets a 7:16. I guess this is where the brakes, and handling on the limit make the difference?

Absolutely. Having to break earlier, and not being able to carry as much speed into corners make a huge difference. The 'Ring is a high speed, flowing course, so losing a few MPH in exit speeds adds up. And I also think the Plaid time is nothing special.

And I also agree that Nurburgring is not nearly as tough on the brakes as shorter tracks with higher brake zone density. I've picked up ~45s on the Ring by making small changes to my line, braking points, (generally lowering my survival instincts) and being able to carry more speed out of corners over 2 seasons there.

By the way, here was one of my laps at Nordschleife in my previous M2 earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjr_jXM8qiw

And another lap from the 1st person POV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qyc35W1wCE&t=10s