---
title: "Two of Three Tesla Model 3s Already Crashed Out During Pikes Peak Hill Climb Practice"
description: "The notoriously tricky course tripped up both a rookie and racing veteran Randy Pobst."
date: "2020-08-26"
modified: "2020-08-26"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/36017/two-of-three-tesla-model-3s-already-crashed-out-during-pikes-peak-hill-climb-practice"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Tesla News"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "model 3"
  - "sedan"
  - "Tesla"
---

# Two of Three Tesla Model 3s Already Crashed Out During Pikes Peak Hill Climb Practice

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/08/Crashed-Model-3-Hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

This year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was shaping up to be a six-car showdown between Acura and Tesla, with [two new 2021 TLXs and an NSX](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/35216/the-2021-acura-tlx-type-s-will-show-the-world-what-it-can-do-at-pikes-peak>) facing off against [a trio of modified Model 3s](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/35417/three-modified-tesla-model-3-race-cars-will-attack-pikes-peak-this-year>). But this clash of titans might be off the table as crashes during practice may have knocked out two of the Teslas.

First to fall was noted Tesla track-day enthusiast and PPIHC rookie Josh Allen, whose track-prepped, aero-laden Model 3 left the course at high speed. Allen appears to have lost control at the end of the Halfway Picnic Ground straight, around the mountain's 10-mile mark, sliding off at the subsequent left-hand corner. His momentum carried him across a ditch outside the corner and into the trees, though he evidently avoided collision with any of the pines.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1298383219356651520

Allen's accident is easily attributed to inexperience on what they call America's Mountain, though the second Tesla man to crash has raced to the clouds multiple times. During a Wednesday morning qualifying run on the mountain's upper section, star driver and Pikes Peak veteran [Randy Pobst](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32201/can-the-2020-toyota-supra-really-take-down-the-bmw-m2-competition>) slid off the course. According to a now-deleted tweet transcribed by [*Tire Meets Road*](<https://tiremeetsroad.com/2020/08/26/randy-pobst-crashes-unplugged-performance-tesla-model-3-pikes-peak-time-attack-car-wont-race-sunday/>), Pobst reported spinning off after losing the Model 3's rear over a bump in the road. In addition to bending the left rear wheel and tearing off the rear bumper, the impact is also said to have "pulled out" the suspension.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1298612175242768384

https://twitter.com/_/status/1298614201804566531

If either car has avoided structural damage, the four days remaining until the green flag may leave them with a shot of making the race. *The Drive* reached out to the Tesla entries' partner Unplugged Performance for an update on the cars' condition, and we will update when we receive a statement.

![message-editor%2F1598464995059-crashedmodel3gallery.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1598464995059-crashedmodel3gallery.jpg>)
**William Boot**

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)