WHO is quicker around a motor racing track – Nat Fyfe or Mitchell Johnson?
If you assumed former Test speedster and car enthusiast Johnson, you would be wrong.
The Dockers captain pipped the Perth Scorcher by 0.13 seconds when the pair went head to head at Barbagallo Raceway as part of a publicity push for Arise Racing recently.
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READ NOWThe new company offers training in the unbelievably fast Radical SR3RS supercar, which hits 100km/h in 3.1 seconds.
Arise is running a Top Gear-inspired time trial competition, pitting a variety of Perth sporting identities against each other.
Company founder Adam Lisle described an experience that progresses from nerves to exhilaration.
“Almost everyone gets into the car with some nerves but that all changes once they’re out on the track with a coach beside them who’s teaching them the skills of racing: throttle application, braking techniques, finding the apex of the corner and the racing line,” he said.
With Johnson (61.31 secs) in fourth, Fyfe (61.18 secs) sits third on the table behind pole vaulter Steve Hooker (60.11 secs) and, not surprisingly, professional racing driver Alister McRae, who recorded the fastest lap of the 2.4km circuit in 59.17 secs.
The 2015 Brownlow Medallist spun off the track more than once, but recovered to post an impressive time.
His main aim was to beat West Coast Eagles defender Brad Sheppard’s 62.19 secs, which he did.
“I enjoyed learning the skills of driving fast including the braking components and just gradually getting better and better,” he said.
Members of the public can buy a training course for $1100, which involves 20 laps and is open to anyone aged 16 and up.