The TOCEVA Racing Tesla Model 3 owned by Jon Edwards has taken second place outright in the WA Targa Cup drivers (and co-drivers) points – a world first for an electric vehicle in a Targa Cup event.
Even more impressive is that this feat was achieved powered by used vegetable oil, as part of the development of the Biofil EV chargers now heading to the Nullarbor!
The TOCEVA name is made up of TOC part of TOCA the acronym for Tesla Owners Club Australia, and EVA part of AEVA the Australian Electric Vehicle Association. The team is made up of members of each of these clubs, who have an interest in EV motorsport.
The 2021 season is now completed. This makes two full Targa West seasons of M3 performance in competition without incident. The team was constantly learning about the car throughout the 2021 season regarding battery, heat and charging management, and the car’s performance itself.
Three EVs participated in the recent Bunbury Sprint event. These cars ran on 100% carbon-neutral fuel. The Biofil charger used 60 litres of waste oil to charge another Tesla Model 3 Performance owned and driven by Nigel Ball and Geoff Duckworth and the Gemtek Group Electric Mini.
Targa events put a car under immense pressure – highlighted by Peter Rullo’s Lotus Exige failing and withdrawing – and having the TOCEVA Racing Tesla Model 3 Performance perform flawlessly for 2 seasons of Targa racing without any intervention, is simply a statement for the capability of EV’s.
Being consistently in the top 10 this year shows that the M3P has been exposed to intense motorsport treatment, without a single service to the drive train or battery pack.
SuppliedCompare this to the petrol field, and there wouldn’t be many teams in this leading group who can claim the same experience.
Drivers Jurgen and Helen Lunnsmen (pictured below) have been under extreme pressure to balance the planning, the driving, and the safe execution of each event while delivering positive messaging about the vehicle and its awesome performance.
They have done a sterling job promoting EV’s with their comradery and humble disposition. It’s been a huge effort timewise.
The success would not have been possible without the support of the magnificent sponsors, too many to name, along with a fantastic team of volunteers who have learnt the craft of Targa Sport in a compressed 18 month calendar. The results speak for themselves.
Now the TOCEVA race team is preparing for the open class 2022 Targa West season and looking at battery options for charging forward. The 2021 sponsors are staying with the team for 2022 with some upping support by 50%. The momentum is growing, with new sponsors emerging and committing to support the team in 2022.
David Waterworth is a researcher and writer, a retired school teacher who continues to provoke thought through his writing. He divides his time between looking after his grandchildren and trying to make sure they have a planet to live on. He is long on Tesla.