Lordstown Motors showcased its Endurance all-electric pickup truck prototype for the San Felipe 250 race in Baja, California.
Last week, Lordstown Motors announced it would be entering the San Felipe 250 race in Baja, California, with its Endurance prototypes. This week, the EV company provided a first look a the truck it intends to race at one of the most brutal race tracks in the world. Interestingly, the race version looks pretty similar to the Endurance pickup truck that Lordstown plans to sell to customers, albeit with some modifications to suit the impressive off-road capability required for such a race.
Lordstown claims that its entry into the Baja competition is not just a publicity stunt. The company wants it to be the first electric vehicle to cross the finishing line.
“We will go all out during the race, so don’t be shocked when you see an airborne Endurance. We are still working on our race vehicle and we can give tough competition to our gasoline-powered competitors provided we don’t need to stop for a charge,” said Ryan Hallett.
The vehicle that would be entering the race is named Endurance Beta skateboard, and it is built on the company’s electric chassis platform. It is a full-size, battery-powered pickup truck that can go 250-miles on a single charge. Furthermore, it has a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds, and it generates over 600 hp of power. Lordstown also equipped it is equipped with exciting race vehicle items that would help it pass the inspection.
Lordstown Motors first developed the Endurance prototype pickup truck, followed by Alpha, Beta, pre-production, and finally the production version. The automaker started testing the Beta skateboard variant in January this year.
Lordstown Motors CEO Steve Burns seemed very assured about his company’s performance in the upcoming race. “We are confident that we will get the job done because our vehicle is equipped with advanced software controls, superior traction, and exceptional weight balance.”
However, things are not going to be easy for Endurance Beta since it would be competing in the San Felipe 250 race for the first time. Will the vehicle withstand the unforgiving desert terrain where it would be subjected to rocks, dirt, debris, and water? Will Endurance Beta finish the 250-mile race on a single charge, or would it need to take a charging break? We will find the answers to these questions on the race day itself. The 2021 San Felipe race will take place on April 17, and it would start and finish in Baja, California.
About San Felipe 250
The San Felipe 250 is a 250-mile off-road motorsport race that takes place every year near San Felipe in Baja, California. The race is sanctioned by SCORE International and was first held in 1982, and it has been held annually ever since. The San Felipe 250 is a loop-race event, i.e., it starts and finishes in the same place.
