Electric Vehicles

Tesla Model 3 takes out Targa West rally, beating fossil fuel rivals by huge margin

Published by

The Driven

A Tesla Model 3 has taken out first position in the 130 class of the Targa West rally, almost 10 minutes ahead of a lineup of fossil-fuelled competitors including the second fastest competitor, a Holden Commodore VF SS V.

Driven by veteran racers Jurgen and Helen Lunsmann over four days from Thursday to Sunday, the 2019 Performance Model 3 racing for West Australian EV charging business Gemtek became the first electric vehicle to win the 130km/hr speed limited class of the 1,000km race.

Notably, the Model 3 also beat the times of the 165 class (which is 165km/hr speed limited), coming in a little more than 4 minutes ahead of that class’s winning 1999 Honda Civic.

“This is testament to the acceleration of the Tesla Model 3 Performance Plus,” Gemtek co-founder Floian Popp tells The Driven, also noting and thanking the efforts put in by a team of volunteers.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Share
Published by
Tags: model 3Tesla

Recent Posts

“A big problem:” Big battery developer says cancelling transmission links as bad as delaying coal closures

Panelists at energy summit in Sydney warn the impact of losing bipartisan support for big…

13 October 2026

Coal country battery project that earned ire of state MPs joins queue for federal environmental approval

A four-hour big battery proposed for construction in state's south-east is seeking a federal green…

13 October 2026

Huge four-hour battery secures final approval to become one of biggest in state

The Octopus Investments battery has approval for up to 2 GWh, making it one of…

13 October 2026

“Doesn’t make sense:” Australia’s biggest power generator not interested in new coal-fired power plants

AGL chief nixes the idea that the company would ever be building coal-fired power stations…

13 October 2026

One of Australia’s oldest wind farms given new lease on life as turbines “repowered” after storm damage

One of Australia’s oldest continuously working wind farms, and a vital ingredient of a world-leading…

13 October 2026

Solar robotics innovators win Arena funding to build manufacturing plants on Australian soil

New funding will help establish manufacturing facilities for two automated technologies – robots that install…

13 October 2026