As it happens, it was ESP on the last car too. The thing about electronics is that despite how advanced and fancy they may be, they are still dealing with physics. If you are accelarating and the wheels start to break traction, and the car starts to apply the brake, there is a moment where the brakes are going to have to compensate or over compensate accordingly. With no electronic control on, the wheels will overpower friction as much as the amount of power applied to them, therefore no drag or delay. To me at least, this is a better way of dealing with town driving especially on days that are not dry.
What I would be willing to try is a 0-60 and 0-100 in the wet both with ESP on and off. My bet is that the car will be faster with it off than with it on.
Edit: I am also willing to bet that every persons best 1/4 mile time in a Leon Cupra/FR/Cupra R etc were all done with traction control off regardless of it being wet or dry. My last car made 15 secs approx with traction control on and low 14's with it off.
