:!: I'll bet that one has a TRAC/VSC disable switch! The acceleration figure sounds conservative considering the quantum leap in power-to-weight. Maybe the bigger wheels and ? final drive were more important to the builder.

I'll have a friends at Goodwood who are sponsoring the Toyota 2000GT that will be raced there. I'll ask them to grab some photos and ride impressions if possible.

Gimme, gimme, gimme. I want, I want, I want!

This would be a very cool option. Throw in leather and bingo!

Rick, I'm thinking they would have grippy racing slicks that should all but eliminate wheelspin with the modest output.

So now you have me wondering if there's some type of fail-safe to prevent generator over rev. At the autocross last weekend, each circuit ended with a low speed corner exit followed by five seconds of WOT and then maximum braking to a stop. The ICE would "hang" at high rpm's for a few seconds before returning to idle. The car didn't want to move during the "hang", nothing broke, no unusual symptoms otherwise, no CEL, and the car drove normally afterward. TRAC/VSC were both engaged and working. I wonder what was going on? The course workers were getting ready to run away!

It was my bog stock (except for tires) U.S. spec Prius. It really needs a stiffer front anti-roll bar. I was told that the inside rear wheel would lift off the surface through a moderate speed chicane. That was likely the time when VSC kicked in, although I didn't sense any oversteer sensations. From my brief experience on track, I think it would take a lot of work to get into trouble with Prius during emergency maneuvers on dry asphalt. The VSC is very conservatively calibrated for a dry, high grip surface, but probably about right for low grip situations.

The real fun crusher is TRAC, though. It wouldn't allow much momentum to develop before announcing itself. My quickest time was during an attempt to have TRAC release on moderate speed corner exit sooner by simultaneous brake and throttle application, using left foot braking to control pace while maintaining WOT. It's an old trick I learned from a Saab rally driver and it was worth a few ticks, but not something I'd recommend without practice.

Overall balance wasn't bad for a F/F grocery getter. I think the main battery placement helps here. The weak link was brakes. They barely generated enough force to get a whiff of ABS when hauling down for the tightest, throttle off turns. Maybe they were too hot by then! Altogether, Prius behaved respectably compared to the ICE cars in class. But I don't think you'll see any at SCCA Nationals anytime soon until they start winning, and then watch how fast a Hybrid Class is authorized!