Almost 20 years after the first staged race between a car and an airplane, Richard Hammond and James May are back and this time, in a race between two electric forces — one on the road, one in the sky. Now, they’re pitting the all-electric Taycan Turbo GT against the world’s first commercially available electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro.
The challenge: who can get from Henstridge Airfield on the Somerset/Dorset border to Dunsfold Aerodrome faster? Would it be Richard Hammond behind the wheel of the Taycan or James May in the cockpit?
The race was a true demonstration of just how far the all-electric Taycan can go. The Taycan Turbo GT wasn’t just built for speed—it was engineered for every scenario, whether on the track, the open road, or even in an electric showdown with an aircraft.
While the plane had the advantage of a shorter route through the air (129 km vs. 174 km on the road), it was limited by its 50-minute maximum flight time. May was forced to make a mandatory charging stop at Thruxton Aerodrome, giving Hammond and the Taycan a chance to catch up.
Hammond used the Taycan Turbo GT’s rapid 800V charging to his advantage, topping up from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes before powering ahead. With 1,108 PS of power, 1,240 Nm of torque, and sprints from 0–100 km/h in just 2.3 seconds, the Taycan carved through winding B-roads with confidence and precision.
With detours, a recharge, unexpected traffic conditions, and weather in play, both on land and in the sky, the answer might surprise you. Watch the full video below to find out which EV came out on top.
