[category]
[title]
Update: We're giving away 5 x $300 Adrenaline vouchers so you can step outside your comfort zone. Enter via Instagram here.
Motorsports are having a serious moment in Australia right now. Just look at the record-breaking crowds at the most recent Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne – we clearly can’t get enough of the thrill. But it’s not just a spectator sport here. Australia is actually one of the best places in the world to get behind the wheel yourself, so I decided to go for a spin and see what it’s really like.
Our nation is home to some pretty legendary tracks that any amateur motorsport fan – myself included – will recognise. From the famous Mount Panorama of the Bathurst 1,000 to the legendary Albert Park Circuit, home of the F1, to the scenic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, host of the annual MotoGP. Being a Sydneysider, I’m lucky to have Australia’s most in-demand race track, Sydney Motorsport Park, practically in my backyard – so that’s exactly where I headed to experience it for myself.
I’ve watched plenty of motorsport on the telly, but nothing prepares you for the thrill of pulling up raceside! The moment I stepped out of the car, I was overcome by the engines roaring and echoing across the park. It instantly pulled me into the action, sending my heart rate into overdrive.
For my experience with Adrenaline, I was booked in for six laps around the track in a V8 racecar – four behind the wheel and two hot laps as a passenger. The coolest part about this experience is that anyone with a valid driver’s license, manual or auto, can live like a pro racecar driver for the day.
My experience kicked off with the usual safety formalities: registration, waivers, and a video briefing covering driving etiquette and techniques. Next came the fun part: slipping into my racing overalls and helmet (seriously, you feel like an instant boss) before strapping in for what would quickly turn into the ride of my life.
Now, nothing quite prepares you for how fast these cars really go until you’re actually on the track. The engine and I let out a simultaneous scream as I pressed down on the accelerator, then suddenly I was zooming down the first long straight of tarmac.
My instructor, Scott, encouraged me to ride the wave of adrenaline, guiding me when to brake and hit the gas around each sharp corner. My confidence grew, and by the final lap, I was hitting speeds of up to 180 kilometres per hour. But even that didn’t prepare me for the thrill of the hot laps…
Scott and I swapped seats as he geared up to take me on two super-speed laps around the track. I held on tight as we raced down the tarmac, zooming at to 220 kilometres per hour. I still can’t wrap my head around just how fast we were flying – and now I completely get why Aussies are hooked on motorsport.
If you’re keen to get behind the wheel, Adrenaline offers V8 Supercar experiences across Australia, including Sydney, Bathurst, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Townsville. You can find out more here.