This Electric Van Just Outpaced Supercars - You Won't Believe How Fast It Went!
Imagine this: an electric van not just competing with, but surpassing, the lap times of some of the world's most iconic supercars. Sounds like a tall tale, right? Wrong. Meet the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2, the electric behemoth that's rewriting the rules of speed and power on the legendary Mount Panorama racetrack in Australia.
The Unbelievable Feat
Romain Dumas, a name synonymous with precision and speed, took the wheel of the SuperVan 4.2 and shattered records left, right, and center. This van, far from your ordinary delivery vehicle, clocked an 'electrifying' lap time of 1:56:3247. Yes, you read that right. It hit a top speed of over 186 mph (300 kph), making it the fastest closed-wheel, electric, and commercial vehicle to dominate the 10-mile racetrack.
Why Mount Panorama?
'There is nowhere quite like it in the world,' remarked Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports, explaining the choice of Mount Panorama. The track's demanding layout provided the perfect arena to showcase the SuperVan 4.2's capabilities, fresh off its record-breaking run at Pikes Peak. Here, Dumas pushed the van beyond the unthinkable 186 mph mark, aiming for a record that was as ambitious as it was unexpected.
Not Your Average Van
Standing tall—literally—above the Mustang GT3, the SuperVan 4.2 is not what you'd expect in a race vehicle. It weighs in at 3,698 pounds (1,800 kilograms) but don't let that fool you. Housing three six-phase electric motors, it boasts an extraordinary 1,408 horsepower. Yes, this van is as fast as it is furious, equipped with magnesium forged wheels and Pirelli P Zero race tires, not to mention carbon ceramic brake discs.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Getting the SuperVan ready for Mount Panorama was no small feat. It took two grueling weeks of round-the-clock work by the global Ford Performance team. Each lap shaved seconds off the time, under the watchful and increasingly amazed eyes of Australian race enthusiasts.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia, hinted that the lessons learned from the SuperVan's run could influence the development of Ford's electric road cars. 'Mountain conquered,' tweeted Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, proud of the van's record-smashing success.
What's Next for the SuperVan 4.2?
Having conquered Mount Panorama, the SuperVan 4.2 is now headed to the Ford Proving Ground in Victoria, Australia. Its next appearances are scheduled for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Each event is a chance for this groundbreaking vehicle to showcase just what electric power and ingenuity can achieve.
In an era where the automotive world is increasingly electric, the Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 stands as a beacon of innovation, challenging conventional boundaries and setting new benchmarks for speed and performance. It's not just a van; it's a revolution on wheels.