Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ace and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button wrote history today, becoming the first-ever race driver to take on Australia’s iconic Mount Panorama circuit in an F1 race car.
As part of a Vodafone sponsored event with the support of the Bathurst Council, Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes (three time V8 Supercar champion and five time Bathurst 1000 winner) swapped their cars for a day at the historic Australian circuit.
The historic event proved to be irresistible to motorsport fans, with thousands flocking to line the Mount Panorama circuit to see a Formula 1 car soar around the legendary track.
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Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes drove 2008 world championship winning Mclaren F1 car.
Button completed 5 laps in the 2008 McLaren F1 machine before Craig Lowndes took the wheel of the championship winning car. Between the F1 runs, both drivers drove the Team Vodafone VE Commodore across the mountain.
Craig Lowndes
"Imagining an F1 car around Bathurst initially seemed a bit crazy. But it’s here and we’re going to enjoy it for what it is. It will be a hell of an experience. I never thought in my lifetime we’d see this." said Lowndes
It was the acceleration of a modern F1 car that caught his attention once he got behind the wheel.
"When I first went out it was the acceleration but when you go through turn two you really realise how much acceleration you have. In comparison the V8 seems to labour up the mountain."
With a hint of disappointment in his voice, Lowndes explained that the car didn't approach the previously predicted 360km/hr mark.
"I think we got up to just over 300km/hr, I don't think it was geared for much more, but it would have been good if we could gear it for Bathurst," he said.
Jenson Button
For Button it was the fulfilling of a childhood dream to drive a V8 at the mountain.
"As a driver you have your favourite tracks. Like Macau and Silverstone for instance. But this is the one I haven’t had the possibility of driving and I’m going to fulfil a childhood dream in not only a V8 but also in a Formula 1 car – which I think is pretty special myself." said Button
He was however surprised at the grip level of the V8 Supercar.
"I didn’t expect so much grip. It took me a while to get used to it. I haven’t hammered a car over kerbs like that for 12 years so it was a new experience for me and something I’ve missed."
"I was holding on tight all the way. It takes everything out of you. It was the experience I’ve wanted to have for many years and I’ve finally done it. In a way it’s probably not a good thing because it’s made me more hungry to come back."
Button was left wanting more from his F1 drive after his 5 lap demonstration.
"This is an iconic race track and it’s great to celebrate the unofficial fastest lap in a F1 car. That was phenomenal. It was such a rush."
"Once you get over the straights being quite hard to control the car over it is such a pleasure. It’s just a pity I don’t have more laps to test it out."
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ace and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button wrote history today, becoming the first-ever race driver to take on Australia’s iconic Mount Panorama circuit in an F1 race car.
As part of a Vodafone sponsored event with the support of the Bathurst Council, Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes (three time V8 Supercar champion and five time Bathurst 1000 winner) swapped their cars for a day at the historic Australian circuit.
The historic event proved to be irresistible to motorsport fans, with thousands flocking to line the Mount Panorama circuit to see a Formula 1 car soar around the legendary track.
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Both drivers paid tribute to the large number of fans who turned up, many from all over Australia to see the historic event. Money raised at the gate via a Gold coin donation will go the Queensland and Victorian Flood Appeal.
The five-times Bathurst winner, revered by the Mt Panorama faithful, managed to smash his own V8 track record by more than 15 seconds when driving in an F1 car on Tuesday.
But Lowndes could only play second-fiddle to 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button, who polished off the iconic track in a blistering time of one minute, 48 seconds - a full second clear of the local on just his second lap
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