STARD, the Austrian company owned by the Stohl Group, has developed the world’s first fully electric vehicle designed for racing in FIA-sanctioned rallycross and rally events.
They call it the STARD Hiper Mk1, and it is based on the racing version of a Peugeot 207 of the S2000 class. We are talking about a complete conversion to electric power, which includes a permanent four-wheel-drive system. This is one of four entire vehicle projects that have been developed by STARD within the last two years, and it is also impressive.
The team behind it says that its two engines produce the combined equivalent of 544 HP and a torque of 760 Nm (560 lb-ft). A four-motor system is already in development.
The level of power announced exceeds the one offered by WRC cars today, while most World Rallycross models would struggle to match it. According to STARD, the car can operate at maximum power for 15 minutes, and its single-speed transmission permits it to reach a top speed of 195 km/h (121 mph).
Manfred Stohl, the famous race car driver that is a part of the Stohl Group, has driven the car and he described it as “mind-blowing.” Instead of praising his team’s work just because they cooperate with him, Stohl elaborated his statement with an explanation - it can provide a level of power delivery that is not matched by any conventional racing car.
Stohl explained that the 1,250-kilogram (2,755 lbs) car reaches 90% of its peak torque in just 40 milliseconds from a standing start, which is enough to say that any potential co-driver risks getting sick. Drivers will not have it easy either, because Stohl compares the sensation to a “giant rubber slingshot.”
The company is already developing an energy recovering system that would be employed during braking. Its is supposed to help drivers complete longer rally stages. It is worth noting that the world of rallying has no plan to go full electric anytime soon, but Stohl’s team wants to be sure that it is ready for the future.
Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland. Full profile
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