Tesla at 24 Heures du Mans

[dpeilow]

Hi,

I spotted the Roadster driving around at Le Mans on Thursday last week and then a few minutes later parked up in the paddock.

I wasn't too sure who was in it, I was too busy reaching for the camera phone. I never did see it again either (was going to try for a test ride!).

I was surprised by how *totally* silent it was.


Was anyone else there? Anyone get any pics?


Dave

 

[dpeilow]

A couple of better pictures from my friend's camera:

Dave

 

[doug]

Awesome! Thanks for posting your pictures.
Here are a couple links that have a few more pics:

Car News and Reviews - Autofiends.com - » News Archive » Tesla Roadster at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Not a celebrity siting with Tesla Roadster this time but almost as weird and crazy. Amongst a lineup of the likes of Ferrari FXX, Gumpert Apollo, Spyker, and Koeniggseggs reving their motors to oblivion in the supercar portion of the totally crazy Driver’s Parade, out rolls (silently!) a black Tesla Roadster with UK license plates. Kind of surreal!

Car News and Reviews - Autofiends.com - » News Archive » Tesla Roadster at Le Mans: In Pits: Matt Damon Not Driving

 

[dpeilow]

Car News and Reviews - Autofiends.com - » News Archive » Tesla Roadster at 2008 Le Mans Pt 2: On Track!

And here

 

[doug]

Car News and Reviews - Autofiends.com - » News Archive » Tesla Roadster at 2008 Le Mans Pt 2: On Track!

And here

Now that's the view I was waiting for!

 

[TEG]

AP and DS out having some fun there!
As far as I can tell they have the one car (VP12) making the grand tour of Europe (even though those other sites are assuming multiple black roadsters).

 

[Cobos]

Yes this is the same car they used in Oslo, I remember the license plate number. And that is what Tesla's twitter pages says, they'll be taking the car down to Le Mans after their scandinavian trip.

Cobos

 

[doug]

AP and DS out having some fun there!

Yeah Siry had a tweet about driving on the track. Who is AP?


Edit: AP = Aaron
While Elon takes credit, Tesla Roadster heads to Le Mans - AutoblogGreen

 

[dpeilow]

Yeah Siry had a tweet about driving on the track. Who is AP?

Legally allowed on the track or did they sneak out when no one was looking?

[edit] Just seen Simon's post at teslamotors.com so I guess it was planned.

 

[doug]

Some more shots from Le Mans, including a few of the Roadster:
Lemans - Pitwalk - a set on Flickr

From a different set:
Le Mans 2008 - a set on Flickr

 

[doug]

video

Vid of the Roadster's lap:

Tesla Roadster's Videos: A Tesla lapping the 13km circuit at Le Mans | Facebook

 

[doug]

And more photos:

Tesla Roadster's Photos - Tesla at 24 Hours of Le Mans | Facebook

 

[malcolm]

Wouldn't it be a tad faster with the top on?

 

[dpeilow]

Vid of the Roadster's lap:

Tesla Roadster's Videos: A Tesla lapping the 13km circuit at Le Mans | Facebook

Truly impressive. I wish I had got trackside a bit earlier to see this.

 

[doug]

Wouldn't it be a tad faster with the top on?

Probably faster, but not as fun. I'm surprised they weren't required to wear helmets, however.

Does anyone know which drivetrain/transmission is in VP12? Photos of the center console show the 1-speed configuration (R-N-D), but shots in the video of the instrument cluster appear to show it partially updated to P-R-N-1. (The original 2-speed had P-R-N-1-2 and the updated 1-speed has P-R-N-D.) So does VP12 has drivetrain 1.0 locked in high gear or is it running drivetrain 1.5.

 

[doug]

Yet another gallery:

Picasa Web Albums - Roel - 24 Heures du ...

 

[Cobos]

Doug: After what the Tesla guy said in Oslo this car has the 1.0 drivetrain locked in second gear. They just updated the gear shifter visuals so it looks like the 1.5 drivetrain.

Cobos

 

[dpeilow]

Truly impressive. I wish I had got trackside a bit earlier to see this.

Has this video been pulled? Seems to be the only one not working now.

 

[doug]

Doug: After what the Tesla guy said in Oslo this car has the 1.0 drivetrain locked in second gear. They just updated the gear shifter visuals so it looks like the 1.5 drivetrain.

Thanks, Cobos.

Has this video been pulled? Seems to be the only one not working now.

Works for me. You might try restarting your browser.

 

[malcolm]

Let's hope there's an appearance on UK Top Gear coming up to coincide with the Roadster attending the british auto show.