Of course it’s slightly unfair to set a new fastest lap on a track only intended for V8 powered race cars
but when given the opportunity to blitz round one of Australia’s iconic circuits in a Formula 1 car it would be hard to say no. That is exactly what Jenson Button did! He took to the track in a McLaren MP4-23 from the 2008 season and tore round the beautiful track with the elegance only a Formula 1 car provides. The current champion of the Bathurst 1000, which is the race that uses this track, is Craig Lowndes. He brought along his V8 powered race car for Jenson to have a go in and he himself also had a go in the Formula 1 car. Even though he was a second slower that Jenson around the track in the Formula 1 car they both smashed the lap record by almost 18 seconds, which really goes to show the power of those cars. Great fun was had by all involved and Jenson said the track provided an immeasurable amount of fun which just isn’t portrayed well on the TV. I wonder if this little demo has gotten Jenson Button all fired up for the new Formula 1 season? We won’t have long to find out as practice starts this Friday.