Porsche Taycan sets electric drift record

Porsche this month set a new world record for the longest drift ever pulled off by an electric auto.

Porsche used a base rear-wheel drive version of the Taycan, as rear-wheel drive makes drifting far easier than all-wheel drive. "Sufficient power is always available". The low center of gravity and the long wheelbase ensure stability. "The precise design of the chassis and steering allows for flawless control at all times, even when moving sideways", he added. "Nevertheless, it was also very exhausting for me to keep my concentration high for 210 laps, especially since the irrigated asphalt of the drift circle does not have the same grip everywhere".

In that 55 minutes, the Taycan managed to cover 26.2 miles (42.2 km) traveled sideways; the entire stunt was supervised by Guinness World Records representatives, making it official nearly as soon as it was finished. "I concentrated on controlling the drift with the steering - this is more efficient than using the accelerator pedal and reduces the risk of spinning", noted Retera. A local land surveyor was brought in to measure the skidpad, while Global Positioning System and yaw-rate sensors in the vehicle, as well as a camera on track's control tower, were used for documentation. Porsche brought in engineer and two-time European drifting champion Denise Ritzmann to independently certify that the vehicle was in stock condition, and to observe the drift.

A Guinness World Records official was on hand to present Retera with a certificate to officially acknowledge his achievement.