AUG 18 – 20 | Lime Rock Park – CT at Gridlife Circuit Legends
SEP 30 – OCT 1| Willow Springs – CA at Gridlife Streets Special
OCT 20 – 22 | Laguna Seca – CA at Gridlife Laguna Seca
We are only a few weeks into 2023 but it feels like a long time ago since our last update. Well, here we are and we’re very excited to release the epic schedule for the Model 3 Challenge in 2023. Running at Gridlife festival events is always an experience like no other, and to see a pack of Model 3’s all running in front of thousands of people, inspiring them about the fun that electric cars can be, and are – it’s going to be nothing short of epic. We hope you’ll be part of the inaugural year of the Model 3 Challenge with us.
At this time, there are plans for a live web stream of the Challenge during the two Gridlife Festival events, Circuit Legends at Lime Rock and Gridlife Laguna at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. So if you’re on the east coast, you absolutely need to make it out to Circuit Legends, and likewise, if you’re on the west coast, Laguna is an event you will NOT want to miss!
Signup:
You can now purchase tickets and sign up for the Model 3 Challenge directly through Gridlife! Simply follow the links above (click on the image or the event) to find the relevant page. We can’t wait to see you out there!
Warmup-Events:
In addition to the official events, we will be running some non-competitive warmup events at the following Gridlife events. These warmups will run with other Gridlife sessions, sharing the concept of the Model 3 Challenge before our official events kick off later in the season.
APR 28 – 30 | Watkins Glen International – NY at Gridlife At The Glen
AUG 4 – 6 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – OH at Gridlife Mid-Ohio Meet
Assetto Corsa Model 3 Challenge Online:
In an effort to get everyone into a “seat” as soon as possible, we are also announcing the launch of our Assetto Corsa online Model 3 Challenge. We hope that this can give you all something fun to do during the off-season, and familiarize yourself with the overall concept, passing rules, etc. The series is very casual, totally for fun and not all that competitive. So we welcome you to join and have some fun!
Events will take place bi-weekly on Saturday’s at 2:30PM EST starting January 28th, 2022, and will run for around two hours. More details will be posted a week prior to the first event. To get a head-start, view MPP’s Assetto Corsa Cup Webpage for download links and general information.
2023 Rulebook Updates:
Due to supply chain shortages, and to lower the barrier to entry to the series, we are removing the requirement for the MoTeC C125 Data Logger on all models and the MPP Partybox on Performance models.
The minimum build requirement for those of you with Performance Model 3’s is as follows:
- Racing Brake Pads
- MPP Cooling Party Controller
If you have a non-Performance Model 3, you will need the following in addition to the above:
- Some kind of front brake upgrade, this is primarily for safety. The OEM 320mm brakes are too small to be safely used for the length of a race.
- MPP Party Box
While this change allows for a bit more variance from car to car than is ideal, it also allows you to participate with relatively minimal investment. Please note that moving forward, we expect to reinstate the MoTeC and PartyBox requirements for the 2024 season.
Tires allowed may be any 200 UTQG tire 285mm wide and narrower. Cheater tires aren’t a significant benefit, as your car needs to last the entire race – not just one lap!
For 2024. We are working on relationships with tire manufacturers, so hopefully we’ll have some contingency prizes available in the future, but rest assured any tire sponsorships the series acquires will be shared substantially with the competitors.
Car Prep Kits:
Finally, we are concluding solutions for the various bits that you’ll need to compete in the series. It is our goal to make participation in the series as easy as possible, so we’re trying to solve all of these little items which we know can be a time suck. Some of the components we’ll be offering include:
- HVIL Disconnect, providing a cowl-mounted high voltage disconnect for emergency workers. This part has already been installed and tested throughout the 2022 season.
- Rear Tow Strap, with minimal modifications required to the rear bumper lower valence.
- Rewards Weight Ballast Kit, including netting and weight bags that can be easily adjusted.
Kits can be purchased from Electric Vehicle Racing Specialists. If you have any questions or need help preparing your car for the season please do not hesitate to reach out to us!
We’re pumped to get the 2023 season going and the best way to start is to get Asetto Corsa installed on your PC and join us for the online sessions. We can all get to know each other there, and help introduce you to our unique racing format that increases safety and lowers the barrier to entry for anyone who wants a little bit more competition than just one lap at a time.