May and Hammond revive car and plane race in electric era

Almost 20 years after their original car versus plane challenge, Richard Hammond and James May have revisited the format for a new DriveTribe film that brings the contest into the electric era. In 2005, the pair teamed up in a Cessna 182 against Jeremy Clarkson in a Bugatti Veyron on a course from Alba, Italy to London. This time, May piloted an electric aircraft while Hammond took the wheel of a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.

The race began at Henstridge Airfield on the Somerset–Dorset border and finished at Dunsfold Aerodrome, the site of the presenters’ former test track. The road distance of 108 miles contrasted with the 80-mile direct flight. The Taycan’s EPA-estimated range of 269 miles meant it could complete the course without charging, though it boasted an 18-minute 10–80 percent recharge at up to 320 kW. The plane’s roughly 50-minute maximum flight time required a planned charging stop at Thruxton Aerodrome midway.

Off the line, Hammond unleashed the Taycan’s full torque of 914 lb-ft and 1,019 horsepower Overboost to sprint from 0–60 mph in 2.1 seconds, underscoring how everyday electric cars now rival supercars of two decades ago. May was struck by the simplicity of the electric aircraft’s pre-flight checks, illustrating that electromobility’s conveniences extend beyond four wheels.

A 20–30 knot tailwind aided the plane, but traffic, roadworks and speed limits slowed the car. Hammond even used the Taycan’s liquid-crystal panoramic roof to scan for his airborne rival. The head-to-head contest stayed too close to call until they neared Dunsfold for the first time in over a decade.