The ESC does not apply the brake enough to stop torque to a lifted tire.The ESC does have a ETC component, and for those times axle lockers aren't engaged, it will intervene. INEOS can't seem to use consistent terminology among their publications, but I suspect their ETC system includes at least what they call "Brake Torque Control" in the ESC Matrix. The intervention (of braking a slipping wheel) is after a longer delay than some other OEM systems, so I think that confuses some people who are waiting for it to kick in. I finally saw a video that demonstrates this nicely.
Yes, I do have RDL and FDL on my Trialmaster. I'm far more likely to use them than depend on the ESC system. But I'd still like to know when and how the ESC system will intervene. And for those owners who don't have lockers, this information would seem pretty important.
I said this in my original email to INEOS (see the very first post in this thread):
INEOS didn't address my comment, but braking a wheel is how the ETC system works . . . the only way to "reduce torque to a wheel" is to pull engine power and that won't help if the wheel is up in the air spinning against nothing.
The factory TCS is a mildly effective tool for a Grenadier, for mild off road use.
For owners without lockers an aftermarket solution will be available soon.