Since 2021, Dominic Marcu has pushed EV performance to the forefront of the CNVC (National Coastal Speed Championship), delivering podiums, setting records, and packing the fences at iconic stages like Sinaia, Râșnov, Transalpina, and Reșița. He did it first with the brute-force acceleration of a Tesla Model S Plaid, and now he will bring it with the razor-sharp agility of the Tesla Model 3 Performance (2025). Throughout that journey, we’ve been proud to play a small role in his success by supplying Unplugged Performance parts and supporting a great driver to feel more, trust more, and go faster.

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The Quiet Work Between the Noise

There’s no doubt; hill climbs are decided in seconds. You need a car that rotates predictably in tight switchbacks, stays composed under heavy regen and braking, and repeats its best time even as grip and temps oftentimes vary.

We’ve always believed that the boring parts win the weekend. Spherical bushings keep geometry true under load. UP Forged wheels make the car change direction like it means it, lap after lap. The ride control that lets the platform take a compression without pitching the driver into guesswork. Then there’s aero that doesn’t advertise itself but keeps the car honest when the road opens and the wind remembers it has a job.

That’s the partnership we enjoy being a part of: Dominic brings talent and confidence; Unplugged Performance brings in the hardware.

The UP Philosophy: Repeatability Wins Weekends

We focus on parts and packages that give drivers confidence lap after lap, run after run. We repeated this at Pikes Peak back in 2023, we want to keep repeating performance 24/7.

Here are the areas we love to focus on:

  • Suspension & Alignment: Precision springs, dampers, and adjustable camber solutions that unlock the setup range a street-born EV needs for competition.
  • Chassis Precision: Spherical bushings and rigid mounts that remove slop, sharpen steering feel, and maintain geometry under load.
  • Forged Wheels & Fitment: Lightweight, motorsport-rated UP forged wheels that reduce rotational mass and accept the tire sizes that hill climbs demand—without compromising clearance or steering lock.
  • Functional Aero: Splitters, lips, and diffusers designed for real-world hill-climb speeds, improving stability and brake/cooling consistency.

None of this is flashy in the paddock, but it makes all the difference.

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Hill Climbing has become a spectator sport

Somewhere along the way, the crowd stopped watching this as an experiment and started cheering for it as a favorite. Kids leaned over the barriers; families made a day of it. Journalists who didn’t cover EVs began to ask questions. Dominic’s story wasn’t “electric vs. everything else” anymore. It was a racer doing racer car driver things and proving that an EV’s can perform time and time again.

The Proof is on Real Roads: Sinaia, Râșnov, Transalpina, Reșița

From the street-course of Sinaia (often compared to Monte Carlo) to the elevation and rhythm of Transalpina, Dominic has faced everything: heat, changing surfaces, tight walls, and high public pressure. Through it all, he’s delivered—category wins, podiums, and historic EV firsts—and done it while bringing thousands of new fans closer to sustainable motorsport.

But racing is forward motion. And forward motion means asking the next question.

The Plaid he drove answered the power question. It proved an electric family sedan could be terrifyingly quick and still carve a mountain road with elegance. The next chapter asks for something different: precision.

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The Story Continues

Which is why the next car waiting to be built is lighter, nimbler, and hungry in a different way. Now, Dominic is already getting a feel for this car and is learning how it’s handling the hills every step of the way. It’s now a matter of repeating the same loop that got him to win, which is to: build, test, learn, refine, repeat.

Dominic is moving to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, and we’re excited. With the right Unplugged Performance package—ride control, alignment hardware, forged wheels, and functional aero—you get a chassis that rotates cleanly, stays composed on the brakes, and lets a skilled driver place the car to the centimeter. That’s the recipe for confidence on every run.

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Dream Bigger: Build Your Trophy-Winning Tesla

Dominic’s success isn’t a one-off. It’s a blueprint that any serious driver can adapt:

  • Define the goal. Time-attack, hill climb, track days, or all three?
  • Choose the platform. Model 3 Performance for precision; Model S Plaid for power stages.
  • Spec the foundation. Start with suspension, alignment range, and wheel/tire fitment.
  • Add functional aero. Balance the car at your target speeds and course types.
  • Test, learn, iterate. Use data and seat time to refine—small changes win big time.

We’ve fostered our relationship with Dominic over multiple seasons because the feedback loop makes everyone better: driver, team, and hardware. The same approach scales to your build. Whether you’re chasing your first personal best or the top step at your local hill climb, we’ll help you choose parts that actually move the needle.

Let’s Build Your Competitive Edge

If Dominic’s journey—from Plaid power to Model 3 precision—has you thinking about your own next step, we’re here for it. Talk to us about your goals, the events you’re targeting, and the constraints you’re working within. We’ll recommend a clear, staged upgrade plan for your Tesla that delivers ride quality, predictability, and pace—without guesswork.

Ready to start? Get in touch with Unplugged Performance to discuss your Model 3 Performance or Model S Plaid build, from street-first setups to trophy-chasing packages. Bring the dream; we’ll bring the parts and process to make it real.