The need for speed

ROBYN EDIE 624170993

FAST WITH WORDS: Southland Times sports reporter Brendon Egan gets ready to take on Teretonga in a two-seater Toyota Racing Series car driven by Daniel Gaunt.

Relevant offers

Features

Kina in war against invader No glory without mum 'Silver tsunami' in US Boat-sinking mystery to be remembered The Don moves on Tracking down truants 'Best festival' grows The final hammer From humble beginnings Gold Guitars have flourished Inviting new home for city workers

Some of the biggest names in New Zealand motorsport were at Teretonga at the weekend. Southland Times sports reporter Brendon Egan went along the day before it all kicked off to see what it was like from a driver's point of view.

The scariest five minutes of my life.

That's the first sentence that came out of my mouth as the Toyota Racing Series two-seater car I was in slowly drew to a halt at the finish line at Teretonga on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Toyota Racing had asked whether I was keen to jump on board with star Kiwi driver Daniel Gaunt and do a few laps of the lightning-fast Teretonga circuit.

I've been an ardent Formula One fan since becoming hooked on the sport while watching Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill battle it out for the championship in the mid 90s and didn't hesitate.

After being kitted out in my gear and strapped in tightly by Toyota technician Adam Thomlinson, a completely different set of emotions started to run through my mind as the reality of screaming around Teretonga began to dawn.

Suddenly the engine sounded and before I could yell out a reply to Gaunt's question of whether I felt all right, we flew like a bat out of hell.

Up until yesterday, the quickest I'd ever gone in a vehicle was 125kmh.

I recollect the figure vividly because that overexuberance on State Highway 1 also resulted in my first and only speeding ticket.

I always thought 125kmh was pretty nippy, but after clocking up top speeds of 250kmh with Gaunt during our three laps of the circuit, I was to learn firsthand what the definition of "quick" really was.

What struck me the most was just how easy these pros make it look. As the wind blew into my face and my heart raced ninety to the dozen, I gazed forward at Gaunt who made it appear more like a Sunday drive. Gaunt got into his work during the first two laps, but really put his foot down for the final lap around the circuit.

Just as I began to ponder why I volunteered myself for such a crazy task, the car began to slow and I realised I had lived the life of a motorsport star – well, for all of five minutes.

"You were good," Gaunt remarked afterwards.

"You didn't push the red (slow down) button, which was good. A lot do that. I certainly attacked it, halfway towards the end."

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First