Electric GT Championship

Electric GT Championship

Definition and Historical Background
The Electric GT Championship is a dedicated motorsport series for fully electric GT sports cars. Founded by Electric GT Holdings, the championship was created to provide a competitive platform for electric touring and GT cars, offering an alternative to the Formula E single-seater category. Officially unveiled in Ibiza, Spain in September 2016, the series was initially scheduled to kick off its inaugural season in 2017 with track-prepped Tesla Model S P85+ machinery in a single-make format.

Technical Specifications
The debut-season race car was built on the Tesla Model S P85+, retaining the factory rear-wheel drive setup delivering 416 hp and 601 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h sprint completed in around 3.2 seconds. The car underwent extensive motorsport modifications, including carbon fibre body panels, dedicated aero kits, pushrod double wishbone front suspension, upgraded braking and cooling systems, alongside a stripped cabin fitted with an FIA-spec roll cage, bringing the overall weight to approximately 1,625 kg including the driver.

Subsequent plans saw an upgrade to the Model S P100D racer, boosting output to around 778 hp, slashing the 0-100 km/h time to 2.1 seconds, and running on Pirelli tyres with Alcon brakes. Race preparation was handled by Spain’s Campos Racing, achieving a significant weight reduction of roughly 500 kg.

Race Weekend Format and Structure
Each race weekend comprised a 20-minute practice session, a 30-minute qualifying shoot-out, and two 60 km main races scheduled for daytime and dusk respectively, with all competitors running identical machinery to guarantee a level playing field. The series was officially sanctioned by the FIA, sitting within the broader FIA-approved motorsport framework.

Event Highlights
Electric GT introduced several experimental elements to its competitive format. The schedule featured a headline "Drift-Off" competition, pitting the top two race finishers against two fan-voted drivers in a drifting duel, with the winner bagging three bonus championship points. Alongside the main event, the race weekend also hosted electric karting and esports sim racing tournaments, curating a holistic "tech festival" experience for spectators.

Delays and Current Status
Originally slated for a 2017 launch before being deferred to 2018, the championship ultimately failed to materialise. Key hurdles included battery overheating under intense track driving conditions, coupled with a slower-than-projected market adoption for EVs, which dampened manufacturer interest. The FIA noted that the initiative remained active "in the background", though any concrete launch remains dependent on alignment with carmakers' commercial product cycles.

Distinction from the FIA Electric GT Championship
A clear distinction must be made between the two different entities. The series organised by Electric GT Holdings was based around the Tesla Model S and positioned as a single-make brand cup. Conversely, the FIA Electric GT Championship unveiled by the governing body in 2021 is a multi-manufacturer category, enabling carmakers to adapt existing GT3 architectures with bespoke electric powertrains. Built to match GT3-level pace, the regulations cap battery capacity at 87 kWh with support for 700 kW ultra-fast charging. This FIA series has also suffered delays, with a confirmed commencement date yet to be announced.