Fernando Alonso landed at the Australian Grand Prix with the intention of repeating one of his great performances at the Albert Park track, where he managed to win the 2006 season with Renault and where he has been on the podium five times.
The Spaniard enjoyed an intense day on Thursday at the Melbourne track, since he not only attended to the press and the fans who came to see the two-time champion, but also got behind the wheel of a new vehicle.
The one from Alpine was at the wheel of a car from the Australian Supercars category, a machine with a powerful V8 engine, the Tickford Ford Mustang of the 25-year-old driver, Thomas Randle .
The Spaniard had the opportunity to ride several laps at the renovated Albert Park semi-urban circuit thanks to the agreement that unites the French team with Castrol , one of its most important sponsors.
Alonso was in communication with Randle through the radio so that the Australian could help the Formula 1 driver in his new experience with this vehicle. The man from Oviedo gave everything on the asphalt despite the fact that it was an exhibition, he even went off the track at turn 1.
Getting out of the car, the two-time world champion in the highest category of motorsports made his impressions known: “It’s between a GT3 and NASCAR. It’s heavier and softer in the corners, but then you feel the power, the V8 engine , the sound is impressive”.
“It’s been a lot of fun, because these cars are very similar to each other on the grid, only a second apart from what I’ve heard, and there are 25 machines, that’s unbelievable,” said Alonso.
Alpine was not the only one to enjoy these cars, as Sergio Pérez also participated in this demonstration with the Triple Eight Holden Commodore sponsored by Red Bull.
The Mexican rider enlisted the help of Broc Feeney via radio, but he also had a great day on the circuit before getting on the RB18 : “It surprised me a lot on the straights, I was getting used to that feeling, and the biggest challenge was the braking”.
“I think the braking efficiency, the cornering and the speed in the turns are very different. It’s also very fun how many curbs you can take, as in Formula 1 you are limited, here you can do all the layout,” he continued.
“It’s quite complicated, it’s been quite an experience, and it was a lot of fun,” said Sergio Pérez.
Gallery: Fernando Alonso and Sergio Pérez tests an Australian Supercars in Melbourne
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
Photo by: Edge Photographics
