Two of the three Tesla Model 3s competing at this week’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have crashed before race day on Sunday.
The most significant incident involved the modified Model 3 from Unplugged Performance that was being helmed by racing driver Randy Pobst. The experienced racer was familiarizing himself with the upgraded Tesla during practice, and in a YouTube video commented on how stable it was feeling.
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Unfortunately, Pobst crashed during a Wednesday morning qualifying run on the upper section of the mountain. It is understood that he spun after he lost the rear end over a bump in the road. Dramatic pictures show the vehicle slamming into a stone wall on the side of the treacherous mountain road.
https://www.facebook.com/unpluggedperformance/posts/4364803240259181
It remains to be seen if the vehicle can be repaired before the race this coming Sunday, but things aren’t looking good with both the front and rear ends, as well as the suspension, sustaining serious damage.
The second Model 3 that crashed was being driven by Pikes Peak International Hill Climb rookie Josh Allen. The Drive reports he lost control at the end of the Halfway Picnic Ground straight and slide off on a left-hand corner. He ran off into the dirt and into the trees, but appears to have avoided hitting them.
There were three Tesla Model 3s set to compete at Pikes Peak this weekend. I feel for this team’s crash on first practice day. pic.twitter.com/fFfSTzmJet
— JF Musial (@jfmusial) August 25, 2020
Fortunately, Allen and Pobst were not injured in the crashes.
The one remaining Tesla Model 3 competing in the event is the one entered by Electric Performance and being driven by Blake Fuller.