Model 3 Challenge - Lime Rock Park 2023 - Gridlife Circuit Legends

[MasterC17]

Hey Everyone - we're less than three months away from the inaugural Model 3 Challenge event of 2023 at the historic Lime Rock Park!

The Model 3 Challenge was created with the idea of making EV Racing fun and accessible. The Model 3 was the logical choice, given the volume produced, their proven on-track performance, and their reliability and access to charging networks.

We've partnered with Gridlife to give competitors an unmatched platform featuring hundreds of spectators, YouTube Live Streaming, and a celebration of car culture and motorsports all packed into one incredible weekend!

Many of you on the forums will already be joining us at an event this year, but we'd love to get as many Model 3s on track as possible to show the world what an all-electric future looks like! Come join us for the most fun you can have in a Tesla!

 

[phantasms]

I’m very interested. My car is stock with MPP sport coilovers. How do I apply?

 

[MasterC17]

I’m very interested. My car is stock with MPP sport coilovers. How do I apply?

That's awesome! Please fill out the pre-signup form located here - I'll reach out with next steps!

 

[phantasms]

That's awesome! Please fill out the pre-signup form located here - I'll reach out with next steps!

Nooooooo. Sadly I’m busy crewing sell friends for a different kind of race in the mountains that weekend. Next year hopefully.

 

[MasterC17]

Nooooooo. Sadly I’m busy crewing sell friends for a different kind of race in the mountains that weekend. Next year hopefully.

Darn - sorry to hear - we will plan to see you next year then!

 

[drpheta]

Man this looks fun. That weekend I'm up in Acadia with family and friends, though.

 

[gearchruncher]

Rulebook: https://model3challenge.racing/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Model_3_Challenge-V03_04.pdf

 

[MasterC17]

Rulebook: https://model3challenge.racing/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Model_3_Challenge-V03_04.pdf

Thanks for posting up the link! We've actually been in the process of revising the Rulebook, the latest revision of which you can find here: https://model3challenge.racing/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Model_3_Challenge_V04.pdf

There's a number of changes aimed towards making the Challenge more accessible!

 

[MasterC17]

Preparing for Lime Rock Park!​

It’s hard to believe, but we’re less than three months away from the inaugural Model 3 Challenge event at Lime Rock Park! We can’t wait to see everyone out on the track competing for a podium finish; we believe the first event at Lime Rock is going to be a historical moment for grassroots EV motorsport in North America. Competitors will have an unmatched platform featuring thousands of spectators, YouTube Live Streaming, and a celebration of car culture and motorsports all packed into one incredible weekend!

Watkins Glen Warmup Event A Success​

Speaking of which, our Warmup event at Watkins Glen was a big success, with not one, but two competitors taking home 1st Place trophies in different Time Attack groups! We even had the opportunity to run a mock Challenge session! It was an incredibly wet weekend, but it did make for some fantastic photos as you can see below. The Glen is another incredible and historic track on the Gridlife schedule, and it was an awesome experience to be able to run there with a pack of Model 3’s.

Rulebook Update:​

We’ve updated the Rulebook to make participating in the series more accessible than ever – our goal is to get as many Model 3’s on track as possible, and show the thousands of Gridlife spectators what an electric future looks like! With these changes, we’ve made taking your stock Model 3 to Challenge ready a simple process. We’ve also streamlined the Challenge format, and opened the rules to allow for some aerodynamic modifications (within reason).

Model 3 Challenge Prep Kits:​

We’ve also released some kits to make building your Model 3 Challenge car easier than ever! The “Get On Track” Package converts your completely stock Model 3 to a minimum spec Challenge car for a very reasonable cost (a lot less than you might imagine).

For those of you who already have some modifications, you might want to check out the “Accessories” package, which makes sure you have everything you need for the events, such as tow hooks and the mounting kit for the rewards weight.

Concluding Thoughts:​

If you have any questions, concerns, or need some assistance please don’t hesitate to reach out! A few months goes by quick, so start preparing your cars now!

Tickets for the Lime Rock Park event can be purchased directly from Gridlife. We will reach out a few weeks in advance of the event to make sure everyone is prepared for an awesome weekend at Lime Rock!

 

[gearchruncher]

Can I ask what the logic is here with the addition of aero? You are now allowing front splitters with restrictions, but pretty much unrestricted rear wings? And the front splitter leads to an SoC restriction, but the rear wing doesn't?

Do we have data that rear wings don't really help this platform? Intrigued how this doesn't functionally make a rear wing a requirement to be competitive.

 

[Clover]

I can't make it but want to voice my support. Thanks for putting this together for the community. Have fun everyone.

 

[MasterC17]

Can I ask what the logic is here with the addition of aero? You are now allowing front splitters with restrictions, but pretty much unrestricted rear wings? And the front splitter leads to an SoC restriction, but the rear wing doesn't?

Do we have data that rear wings don't really help this platform? Intrigued how this doesn't functionally make a rear wing a requirement to be competitive.

First and foremost, we wanted to open the field to people with more heavily modified vehicles without requiring them to take off parts to participate in the series.

That being said, in our experience, while the rear wing adds significant stability to the platform, the rear wing alone without front aerodynamics doesn't add measurable pace. However, combined with proper front aerodynamics, the package working together actually adds quite a bit of pace, hence the SOC reduction.

In fact, the fastest lap time at Watkins Glen was set by a competitor running no aero at all - so it's a bit track dependent as well, but ultimately comes down to the driver and car setup more than anything else.

All that said, the rulebook is still in draft and will continue to be optimized as we learn!

 

[MasterC17]

We're less than eight weeks away - make sure you don't wait until the last minute to get your car prepped!

 

[MasterC17]

The next Model 3 Challenge Assetto Corsa Cup event will take place this Saturday at 2:30PM EST! This week, we'll be tackling Virginia International Raceway! My personal best in real life was a 2:04.9 - let's see if we can do any better on the simulator!

If you'd like to join, follow this link for more information! Model 3 Challenge Assetto Corsa Cup

 

[MasterC17]

We are only 1 month out from the Lime Rock Park event! Grab your ticket today to compete against your fellow Model 3 drivers!

 

[MasterC17]

Sometimes he drives a Plaid Model S, sometimes he drives a Model 3! No matter what he is driving, he's smooth and fast!

One Lap of America veteran Andrew Dekoning joins the Model 3 Challenge at Lime Rock Park!

 

[canasion35]

Wish the barriers of entry weren’t so high! All in all it would be ~$2,250 to get the required parts and registration fees. I suppose that’s the price of racing!

 

[MasterC17]

Wish the barriers of entry weren’t so high! All in all it would be ~$2,250 to get the required parts and registration fees. I suppose that’s the price of racing!

We're doing our best to make it as accessible as possible, but unfortunately it is not an inexpensive sport!

The Model 3 Challenge is happy to announce that track insurance will be offered through our preferred provider, Lockton Motorsports, to bring affordable coverage to Model 3 Challenge participants! If you want to ensure you're safeguarded in the event on an incident on track, Time Trial coverage through Lockton Motorsports has you covered!

Simply navigate to www.locktonmotorsports.com, fill out the online form, and select "Gridlife" as the organizer. Don't forget to check the "Time Trial" coverage box!

 

[MasterC17]

After over a year of preparation, we are incredibly excited to be less than two weeks away from the first Model 3 Challenge event!
If you haven’t already, be sure to purchase your tickets from Gridlife, and your accessories kit from EVRS. The first event is going to be an incredible opportunity to show the racing community how competitive and fun electric vehicles can be!

Rulebook Updates​

We have made some final updates to the Rulebook, and are publishing V1.0 for the season! Please find some highlights below:

• Aerodynamics:
  Front Splitters are allowed. The front splitter must not have integrated diffusers and may not be wider than the width of the outer edge of the tires. Rear wings are allowed, but must not exceed the width of the body. The wing must be a single element foil. NOTE: Vehicles running a front splitter WILL be subject to a 10% starting SOC penalty.
  
  
• Challenge Grid And Release:
  Competitors will be gridded based on qualifying (Challenge 1), or the finishing position in the previous race (For Challenge 2+). Competitors will follow a pace car on their out lap while maintaining between a five to ten car-length gap between vehicles.
  
  Once the pace car pulls in to the pits, there will be a speed limit of 50mph. The lead car is allowed to set the pace as long as it is below this speed, but must maintain a consistent speed.
  
  To ensure appropriate spacing between cars, two pairs of cones or flags will be used on the straight to indicate the minimum required gap between cars. Closing the gap prior to the start-finish line may result in a penalty and loss of finishing position. Once the start-finish line is crossed, the race is on, and competitors may engage to competition speed.
  
  
• Proximity To Other Cars:
  If a competitor is able to stay within ~3 car lengths (15 meters) of the car ahead entering a detection zone, the lead car is obligated to issue a point-by after that detection zone. This will be validated by a Blue Flag. Do not pass without a Blue Flag OR a point-by.
  
  At no point should the following car get closer than 1 car length unless actively passing. It is very important to anticipate the leading cars braking points and give yourself a buffer zone to avoid causing a risky situation. Always have enough room to control your vehicle and avoid the lead car if it loses control.
  
  
• Passing And Point-By Procedure:
  Upon two cars being inside of the detection zone at the same time, the lead car that is being passed must point to indicate which side the following car shall pass on at the beginning of the passing zone straightaway.
  
  The lead car should know based on awareness when the car behind is inside the detection zone, however flaggers will also be used to give a confirmation that a pass was required.
  
  The lead car must reduce power and allow the car to pass on the same straightaway and leave ample room for the pass to be completed. This includes giving up the racing line to the car ahead.
  
  Once the pass has been completed, the lead car needs to establish a gap of 1 car lengths (5 meters) prior to re-engaging the car ahead.
  
  When done properly, the car that has allowed the pass should aim to position itself at 1 car lengths back at the apex of the corner, allowing for full acceleration out of that corner, and minimizing the time lost in the pass.
  

Time Trial Insurance​

We are happy to announce that event insurance will be offered through our preferred provider, Lockton Motorsports, to bring affordable coverage to Model 3 Challenge participants! If you want to ensure you’re safeguarded in the event on an incident on track, Time Trial coverage through Lockton Motorsports has you covered!
Simply navigate to www.locktonmotorsports.com, fill out the online form, and select “Gridlife” as the organizer. Don’t forget to check the “Time Trial” coverage box!

Plaid Wins Mid-Ohio​

As an aside, while we were busy testing and training for the upcoming Lime Rock Park event, the MPP.R Plaid was busy pulling off a P1 finish in Gridlife’s TrackMod category, as well as having the fastest overall time in the Podium Sprints! It was great to see an EV finish so strongly amongst a field of fast and well-built ICE cars. Congrats to Andy and Chad of TeamPGR for an incredible weekend!

Concluding Thoughts​

We will be in communication with the field of Lime Rock competitors over the next several days to ensure everyone is prepared and has a smooth event. We encourage competitors to check-in, register, and tech their vehicles Thursday evening to avoid scrambling Friday morning before the first session. We look forward to meeting you all, and can’t wait to see the results!

 

[MasterC17]

We're less than a week out! If you want to get a taste of what a Gridlife event is like - check out the video below. Spectators are welcome, tickets can be purchased from Gridlife!