As of now, electric vehicles are fairly limited when it comes to mainstream racing events. While there are undoubtedly smaller exhibitions or even private competitions people are having with Teslas and other similar vehicles, we’re not yet seeing EVs being welcomed into existing competitions. Case in point, an article from just a few months ago cited a Tesla Model 3 being disqualified from a racing event specifically for being all-electric (or possibly, as the article theorized, because it would have performed too well).
Once you get the idea if EV racing in your head though, it sort of seems inevitable. But will it ever be a major sport unto itself?
The most logical answer is yes simply because the desire will be there, and EVs are their own category. As stated previously, EVs aren’t necessarily welcome in other racing events. Yet they’re also the way of the future, and they’re starting to represent some of the most impressive achievements in automotive capability. More simply, modern EVs are incredibly cool and incredibly powerful, and as long as there are cutting edge vehicles that can move fast, people are going to want to race them. Looking at things this way, it’s almost surprising there isn’t a full-fledged EV racing circuit already.
Another interesting factor behind the idea that EV racing could take off is the betting business. Even in the U.S., where sports betting is only just getting off the ground, there’s a huge variety of activity covered, from leagues like the NFL and NBA to international sports like soccer, horse racing and, of course, various motorsports. In fact the simplicity of motorsports makes them fairly well equipped for modern betting markets, which likely means that if an EV racing circuit emerged it would immediately have a lucrative betting business attached to it. This isn’t something that would necessarily interest potential drivers or even some of the fans. But it would mean a lot more money attached to the broader idea of EV racing.
Something else worth considering in all of this is that even if there aren’t mainstream EV racing events so far, the idea is being explored. While they’re not thoroughly publicized outside of interested circles, there are several Tesla racing events outlined and explained by Teslarati, including some at established speedways and even one at the Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Track in California. This means essentially that even if it’s somewhat subtle, there is groundwork being laid for organized EV races.
It’s still largely a hypothetical at this point. But because of basic interest, financial and betting potential, and the smaller scale races already happening, don’t be surprised if some of today’s most impressive EVs wind up being raced in a formal, organized manner.
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