Team Arcblast Is Back: Here's Everything on the 2026 EV Endurance Racing Season
If you've been following the world of electric vehicle endurance racing, Team Arcblast is a name you need to know. The team just dropped their 2026 season announcement, and between the race schedule, technical upgrades, and a mysterious secret project, there's a lot to unpack. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering EV motorsports for the first time, here's a full breakdown of what's coming.
Who Is Team Arcblast?
Team Arcblast races an EV converted Datsun pickup in endurance events, most notably in 24 Hours of Lemons competition. They already hold a couple of endurance racing records, and 2026 marks their third year competing. The team is candid about their scrappy, learn-as-you-go approach: "we make mistakes and you learn from them" is basically their unofficial motto, and that refreshing honesty is a big part of what makes them fun to follow.
Their core mission extends beyond just racking up miles: they want to grow the EV racing community and inspire more teams to build electric race cars. If you want to race with them, they mean it when they say come on out.
Battery Swap at the 25:01 Hours of Thunderhill Endurance Race
PRI, CES, and a Big Year of Outreach Before the Season Started
The team didn't wait for race season to get busy. Tyler, the team's race captain (or "head idiot," as they affectionately put it), spent the early part of the year at two major events.
First up was the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis and they didn't just attend, they towed the Datsun out there through six inches of snow in a Rivian. Nearly 3,000 miles round trip, burning through a megawatt or two of charging. Tyler spoke at the EVRSafe conference on EV racing safety, covering topics like how tracks can welcome electric vehicles, protect safety personnel, and preserve their racing surface. The converted Datsun turning heads at a show full of high-performance ICE cars was a moment…people kept looking for the engine and coming up empty.
Then came CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which has quietly become a major hub for automotive and EV technology. Tyler noted that the EV presence at CES has exploded in recent years, with an entire dedicated vehicle section. Highlights included John Deere and Caterpillar showing off electric equipment, and the big news of the show: Donut Labs debuting their solid-state battery, which they claim is significantly better than current lithium-ion technology. If it holds up, that's a potential game-changer for the entire EV industry. On the efficiency side, two different companies were showing aerodynamic optimization software capable of 5–10% drag improvements which, for an endurance EV racing team, translates directly to 5–10% more distance per charge.
Team Arcblast’s Datsun 620 EV on display at PRI
The 2026 Race Schedule
This year Team Arcblast is targeting four races, spread across the calendar:
Thunderhill — May (California) This is the big one. The 25 Hours and One Minute race at Thunder Hill is shaping up to be the centerpiece of the season. The team has their sights set on a major record: the most miles driven by an EV in any wheel to wheel motorsport event in the world. The current benchmark was set by a team called EVSR, who put up roughly 1,300 miles. Beat that at Thunderhill, and Team Arcblast would hold the global record not just a Lemons record. Last year's Thunderhill race was brutal, with temperatures hitting 110°F. The team is hoping for something closer to the mid-70s weather they saw two weeks before the event.
High Plains Raceway — June (Colorado) A double-header format with an 8.5-hour and a 6.5-hour race. After the marathon of Thunderhill, those race lengths are going to feel like a vacation. The team plans to use this as a development race to test new setups, see the community, and make some friends. High altitude means staying hydrated, but generally better racing temps.
Gingerman Raceway — September (Michigan) A bit of a haul from home base, but the tighter track layout at Gingerman could actually play in Team Arcblast's favor. Using Optimum Lap simulation software, Tyler calculated about a 30 mph reduction in top speed compared to High Plains which is a substantial amount of energy saved. Less aero drag means more efficient racing for the EV. Some logistics around charging infrastructure still need to be sorted out, but it's on the schedule.
High Plains 24 Hours — September Right on the heels of Gingerman, the team returns to High Plains for the full 24-hour race to close out the season. Going back to a familiar track with fresh data from earlier in the year should give them a solid shot at a strong finish.
Another record set in the 24 Hours of Lemons Endurance Series
Technical Upgrades for 2026
The team isn't standing still. Tyler outlined several key improvements in the works for this season.
The first is a braking system overhaul. Currently the car uses lift-off regenerative braking on the rear axle only, which has worked well in dry conditions. But when it rained mid-race at last year's High Plains event, they had to dial back the regen significantly to keep things safe. The fix: swapping from a brake switch to a brake pressure transducer, then tuning the regenerative braking to work proportionally with front brake input. The result is better brake balance and more consistent regen that adapts to conditions.
Second is tire experimentation. The team has been running Hankook RS4s, which have been remarkably durable hitting nearly 1,200 miles per set, almost unheard of in endurance racing. Originally chosen because of the car's weight, those tires have served their purpose. But with a better understanding of the car's handling and grip limits, the team is ready to try something stickier to shave lap times.
Beyond the car itself, the team has also invested in a new enclosed trailer with heating and cooling. For a team doing overnight endurance stints, this is a huge quality-of-life upgrade that should reduce logistical stress and help everyone arrive at the track in better shape.
Out with the old? 2026 might see even stickier tires since wear was minimal in 2025 racing
The Secret Project
At the end of their 2025 recap video, Tyler teased something with a quick camera pan and zero explanation. When pushed for details in the season announcement, he gave just enough to keep everyone speculating: a new car with roughly double the horsepower of the current Datsun, featuring a lot of 3D printed components, designed to be just as sharp in the corners as the truck.
That's all he's saying for now. Drop your guesses in the comments on their video, and while you're at it, if you've got a dream build or theme in mind for an endurance EV race car, they want to hear that too.
What do you think the secret project will be?
Why This Matters for EV Motorsports
Three years ago, Team Arcblast finished their first race on 19 laps total: completing eight laps before they had to build a charger at 3 a.m., hook it to a small generator, and go back out for 11 more. Since then, they've broken their own records every year and are now genuinely chasing a world-class EV endurance milestone.
More teams are starting to show up. Forrest is racing a Chevy Bolt called the Electric Turtle. A MR2 EV conversion looks to be ready to race this year too. The field is growing. And the team is openly rooting for the competition to take their record because then they get to take it back.
EV endurance racing is still young, still weird, and still figuring itself out. Team Arcblast is leaning into every bit of that. If you want to follow along, stay tuned for the pre-race Thunder Hill breakdown video, coming before May.
Stay safe. Go racing.
The Team answers questions about the truck from other 24 Hours of Lemons teams