We’re still several days away from the inaugural TTxGP motorcycle grand prix, but the organizers are looking ahead to next year - when they plan to have cars compete in the green GP. Tesla Motors is among those interested in participating.
There aren’t many details at this point, but race organizer Azhar Hussain says the plan is to have two classes of cars - single-seaters and proper road cars - join the fun on the Isle of Man. The idea is to accelerate the development of eco-friendlier cars that are fun to drive.
It might just work.
When Hussain launched the TTxGP last year, there were no more than a few companies developing electric motorcycles. Less than a year later, 18 teams will be on the grid for the start of Friday’s event and they’re bringing some lustworthy iron. Mission One, Brammo, MotoCzyszk and Evo Design are just some of the outfits that have developed electric race bikes for the event.
If one event can help jump-start electric motorcycles that quickly, think what it could do for electric cars. We’d love to see a Tesla Roadster go head-to-head with, say, a Ruf electric Porsche, and the TTxGP would be a good place to prove the viability of the Green GT electric Le Mans racer.
Tesla has shown support for the idea, and Aaron Platshon, European sales and marketing manager, said in a statement, “We welcome the TTXGP’s initiative to launch an electric car race and believe that competitive, high performance motorsport will be an important force driving electric vehicles and electric drivetrain technology forward while also capturing the imagination of the public.”
Saba Motors, a California startup working on an electric roadster, also is interested in competing.
“Our goal is to blow away the misconception that cars can offer either high efficiency or excellent looks and great performance,” company CEO Simon Saba said in a statement. “Indeed, you can have great performance and zero emissions in the same vehicle and this race will demonstrate that fact.”
We’ll keep you posted on developments, and we’ll be following the race on June 12. Meanwhile, check out our coverage thus far and read about some of the sweet electric motorcycles with this handy link.
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