Unplugged Performance believes its street-focused 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance has even more pace to unlock after making a strong circuit debut at Buttonwillow Raceway Park.
The company brought its Model Y Performance to TeslaCorsa 43 for the opening event of the 2026 season, where the electric SUV turned its first laps of Buttonwillow’s CW13 configuration. It immediately gave a strong account of itself. Running in a setup designed primarily for road use with occasional track work in mind, the vehicle recorded a 2:02 lap time. This is a figure that has already started talks of a sub-two-minute run next time out.
This is a strong intent for a vehicle better known for moving your family around – albeit at a pretty insane pace. But Unplugged Performance is positioning the new Model Y Performance as a genuine dual-purpose machine, one capable of dealing with daily driving during the week and delivering serious speed at the track on the weekend.
The build used at Buttonwillow was not an all-out track weapon. Instead, the company built a middle of the road package of upgrades aimed at improving braking, handling, and grip while keeping the car practical for normal use. The setup included stainless steel brake lines, street and track brake pads, Motul RBF 700 brake fluid, dual-rate lowering springs, an adjustable rear sway bar, and 20-inch forged wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force PHENOM T/A tires.
Street-Focused Upgrade Package Delivers 2:02 Lap Time
That combination appears to have given the Model Y Performance a strong platform straight away. A 2:02 around Buttonwillow CW13 is a benchmark to shout about for a road-going electric SUV, particularly one still being described as street-first rather than track-specialized.
The car’s appearance also doubled up as the track debut of the 2026 Model Y Performance, which Tesla says benefits from improvements in power, suspension, and seat bolstering. Those changes are intended to make the model better suited to enthusiastic driving from the factory, and TeslaCorsa 43 gave an early glimpse of what that could mean in a real track-day environment.
Unplugged Performance’s confidence that the car can break the two-minute barrier next time proves that owners don’t necessarily need a stripped-out race car to enjoy a strong level of performance on racing asphalt.
At the same time, 40 Teslas ran Buttonwillow with no reported mechanical failures. And yes, it’s good to know that the car’s reliable. But it’s even better knowing just how quick the new Model Y Performance might become with only light, carefully chosen upgrades.
We’d love to get our hands on one for a few days.
