Craig Coker is a professional racing driver known for his precision and technical expertise in motorsports. With a background in both circuit and endurance racing, Coker has built a reputation for consistent, high-performance driving. His adaptability across various racing conditions and disciplines has made him a respected figure in the motorsport community. Coker is celebrated for his focus on car control, race strategy, and continuous improvement. As both a driver and coach, he helps others refine their skills, making a positive impact on those in the competitive racing world.
When we began our Tesla Model 3 based Ascension-R complete car program we set an audacious lap time benchmark, the Porsche 991 spec 911 GT3 RS. The GT3 RS is one of the world's greatest driver's cars on any race track. We challenged ourselves to create a cohesive daily driven Tesla Model 3 upgrade package that can provide all of the benefits of an electric four-door sedan with two trunks and Autopilot, yet one that can transform into a Porsche 911 GT3 RS rival on race track's like Buttonwillow. People thought we were insane to even reference the revered 911 GT3 RS as a benchmark. Yet here we are with this lap time. In fact the fastest lap of the even faster 991 911 GT2(!) RS with a great pro driver and overall top Buttonwillow lap-time record holder Will Wattanawongkiri is recorded at 1:50.4, meanwhile, we clocked a 1:49.90 with our friend Craig Coker behind the wheel in one of our spec-built Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R complete cars.
Here's the records:
https://fastestlaps.com/tracks/buttonwillow-configuration-13
Keep in mind sub 1:50 lap is done with our street legal daily driven spec car. This is not a fully gutted, giant winged purpose-built race car. That purpose-built race car of ours is coming along next. We expect it to be a lot faster.
So, is our 1:49.90 lap apples to apples with the latest spec 911 GT2 RS lap of 1:50.42? Of course not, it can't be summed up that simply. Valid arguments can be had on both sides. The crazy thing though, and our goal with this project is, a debate can be had comparing a Tesla Model 3 with our bolt-ons vs the ultimate price is no object, track-focused weapon from Porsche, the $400k+ 991 911 GT2 RS. This video now illustrates that if you put both on the track and drive them both flat out you have an improbably close outcome! This is not comparing pro to amateur driver, this is comparing lap times of Will W who is arguably the top driver in FastestLap rankings at Buttonwillow vs Craig Coker who has risen up the ranks at TeslaCorsa and is a close friend of ours. Who is faster, Will vs Craig? We don't know but Will surely has more seat time at the track and holds a ton of records there. We think both are talented drivers and this makes it an interesting comparison.
Let's list out some of the key arguments on both sides:
Porsche 991 911 GT2 RS:
Price is $400k+. This is the ultimate in production street-legal Porsche track car at any price. They don't bother with back seats, it comes with custom compound barely street-legal Michelin Cup 2 R tires at 325 wide rear formulated to get within the limits of DOT legality for fastest lap times. The suspension is factory race-tuned and is very firm. The aero is extreme for maximum factory downforce. The car has lightweight mods from the factory including carbon fiber, magnesium and lexan. The car comes with large 6 piston carbon ceramic brakes. The car has wider front/rear fenders compared to the standard 911.
Unplugged Perfomance Tesla Model 3 Ascension-R:
Price is base car + approx $60k parts and labor included for a total of approx $120-130k depending on Tesla pricing of the day. The car has 4 doors, two trunks, seats 4, has full interior and creature comforts and runs on electricity. For track duty, the street tires are swapped out for 19x11 UP-03 wheels with 310 wide Yokohama slicks and the UP sports bucket seat is swapped in for more lateral support. This particular car has almost no light-weighting (UP race parts like lexan glass replacements, UP dry carbon doors, carbon hood and carbon trunk are not used). This particular car has our street aero which is low drag for neutralized range impact. The rear spoiler is low and out of view of the rearview mirror for stock visibility. The front splitter is reasonable in height and length for a daily driven car. No race aero here. The car is modified with UP's quiet brakes which are oversized carbon ceramic 6 piston brakes similar to the Porsche's. The car has all bolt-on upgraded adjustable suspension components. The car has wider front fenders only to accommodate the 310 wide rubber.
Subjective feedback:
Matt Farah (who is well known to not be a Tesla advocate) drove this same car on the street A052 tires and referenced Porsche Turbo speeds he felt in the canyons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcLB-0bLtl4
MotorTrend drove this same car here:
https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/unplugged-performance-tesla-model-3-track-drive-review/
So is this car a comparable track tool than a 991 GT2 RS? That debate will live on. There are a lot of subjective factors that people can favor one vs the other. What we love is that the times are close enough with 15 minutes of track-side prep (slap on race wheels, remove passenger seat and rear cushion) that a street legal daily drivable UP Model 3 Ascension-R can run side by side with one of the greatest Porsche track cars of all time.
Thanks to our driver Craig Coker https://www.instagram.com/fromwhereicharge