Ford's 1,400-HP SuperVan Makes History At Mount Panorama Circuit
The Ford Performance SuperVan 4.2 made history at the Mount Panorama circuit during the Bathurst 500, setting several new records as it raced around the 3.85-mile track.
Ford's battery-powered performer is now the record holder for the quickest electric vehicle, commercial vehicle, and closed-wheel vehicle ever to lap the iconic raceway, following an awe-inspiring performance at Pikes Peak last year. Romain Dumas piloted the SuperVan around the famed Bathurst setting in 1:56.3247.
During the run, Dumas reached speeds over 186 mph on the Conrod and Mountain straights, a dizzying speed for an electric van. Then again, this is not your average E-Transit Cargo Van. In fact, it was so quick that it beat the new record set by an unrestricted AMG GT3 racer just last week.
«While both are impressive mountains in their own right, Mount Panorama and Pikes Peak couldn't be more different in their challenges,» remarked Dumas. «This is the first time I have driven SuperVan 4.2 faster than 300 km/h [186 mph], and we left nothing on the table as we pushed for the fastest lap possible. No one has ever driven a vehicle like SuperVan 4.2 around Mount Panorama, and certainly not this quickly.»
Sriram Pakkam, manager of Formula 1 and EV Demonstrators at Ford Performance, said the SuperVan team worked for two weeks to ensure the world's most exciting commercial vehicle performed at its best. Several key changes were made, with each revision bringing the lap time closer to the record-breaking goal.
SuperVan produces a staggering 1,400 horsepower, which is sent to all four wheels for maximum grip. There are two electric motors powering the rear axle and one at the front. A 50 kWh battery developed by Stard provides the SuperVan with its power.
It's hard to bend the rules of physics, but the SuperVan proves you can work around them. It tips the scales at nearly 4,000 lbs and is shaped like a bus, but that hasn't stopped it from embarrassing supercars and racing machines at Mount Panorama. Jules Gougon, in an unrestricted Mercedes-AMG GT3 race car, held the record for just one week until the SuperVan stole its thunder.
«Lessons learned from SuperVan's running in Australia will have a
