An electric car capable of streaking around Mt Panorama at up to 250km/h will become the first of its kind to join the iconic Bathurst 500.

But the powerful Porsche Taycan GTS will not compete in the road race, instead becoming its safety car.

Supercars announced the electric addition as part of a partnership with BP and Porsche that will kick off on February 24.

But two of the battery-powered vehicles will play a role in other Supercar races throughout the season, working in rotation.

Supercars chief operating officer Tim Waterford said the addition of electric vehicles to racing events would be a “significant milestone for the championship” and another step towards sustainability.

‘World-class racing experience’

“Introducing the Porsche Taycan GTS as our official safety car – and the first electric safety car in Supercars history – showcases our shared dedication to innovation, sustainability and delivering a world-class racing experience,” he said.

The electric Porsche, which launched in 2022, is capable of 250km/h at full throttle and can reach 100km/h in 3.7 seconds, making it fractions of a second slower than a Gen3 Supercar.

The vehicle, sponsored by BP, will be able to fill up at an EV-charging station located in pit lane and will be used to set a speed limit for race cars after accidents or when marshals need to clear the track.

Porsche Motorsport manager Barry Hay said deploying an electric car in the role was an important first in Australia and would be a unique way to demonstrate the technology to millions of motoring enthusiasts.

“As race fans, we rarely like to see the BP Pulse safety car on track but we are looking forward to having the Porsche Taycan GTS play such an integral role in Supercars events from 2024 forward,” he said.

Taycan twins

Two Taycans will be used at other Supercars events during the season, such as the Melbourne SuperSprint.

The 2024 Bathurst 500 will not be the first time an electric vehicle has filled the role of race safety car, however.

BMW’s i8 Roadster electric vehicle filled the role for the Formula E racing championship in 2019 after being modified for the race track.

A Porsche Taycan Turbo S also served as a safety car as part of a support race before Le Mans in 2020 and took over the role in the Formula E championship in 2022.

-AAP