It’s not every day you get to experience a hot lap in a racing car, let alone a fully-blown McLaren 650S GT3 car – the same model that remains the fastest ever car around Mount Panorama. So when 16-year-old GT fan and aspiring journo Slade Perrins got that opportunity, thanks to Australian GT, at Phillip Island last week we got him to put finger to keyboard and tell us all about it.. 

There is something special about the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

It’s one of a kind. Fast flowing corners, hard braking zones that make your head go 90 degrees to your body, and a flat out straight getting cars into top gear. But something makes this track a whole lot more incredible when Fraser Ross takes you around it in his McLaren 650s GT3.

I’m standing in the McElrea Racing garage, waiting. The anticipation making me jump up and down as I try to contain my excitement.

This will be my first ever hot-lap in anything, and what a way, to start at the top in a stunning 650s GT3

Finally, Fraser pulls up in his beautiful white, red and blue McLaren. As I study the finer details of the car I quickly realise what a piece of art the McLaren is, you almost think it’s something from the future. When the gull wing passenger door opened and I glanced inside, it looked like a fighter jet.

So many buttons, so many toggles, so many switches. I can’t begin to comprehend what all of them do.

I was strapped in like a prisoner, confined in one of the world’s best GT3 cars. When I glanced up and looked out the windscreen I was amazed at the level of visibility the drivers have. I personally could see almost everything, and if I strained enough, I could even catch a glimpse of the signature “McLaren” badge on the nose of the car.

Before I had time to prepare myself the fighter jet doors were shut and Fraser shifted out of neutral. I ginned as he wheel spun out the pit-box and left a pair of black lines on the concrete apron, strangely satisfying that was.

We trundled down the pit lane at 40 kilometres an hour. That for me felt fast already, but when we accelerated…Man oh man. My head settled into the back of my seat and we roared down the track towards turn 1. Immediately, I was taken back by the G-Forces, the speed Fraser carried around turn 2 was phenomenal. The aero and grip the 650s has is out of this world. I could swear he took the corner flat out.

He floored the car out through turn 3 as we proceeded to Honda corner. My head nearly landed on the dash board, the stopping distance was truly mad. Ultimately, mad is the only word to describe going from 220kmp/h to 50 in just 130 metres. I could fell the ABS working to its limit preventing the car from locking up.

About now I would usually begin to scream, but I kept my composure all the way through the next two laps. Even when we went through turn 1 with full commitment.

My organs shifted as we screamed around the corner and my brain ended up on the left hand side of my head. The world went blurry for a second as we rounded the turn and braked for the Southern Loop again. It literally felt like my head was going to roll off my neck. I sensed the rear of the 650s getting loose, but Fraser held onto it.

Further on during the lap we went through the Hayshed. Famous for testing a cars downforce and a driver’s confidence. Get it wrong and you can wave goodbye to your pristine car. Luckily I have one of Australia’s best driver’s sitting next to me, we flashed through Hayshed with pure precision, the right wheel on the absolute edge of the grass. The wind noise and the unmistakable sound of a half a million-dollar car bottoming out made the experience even more immersive.

Before I knew it, an experience of a lifetime was over.

When I squeezed out the car, I was asked “how was that?”

My initial reaction needed the bleep machine, but when I rubbed my eyes and took off my helmet, I suddenly realised how much a privilege that was.

It was an experience I will never ever forget, not in a million years.

And if you ever get a similar opportunity, don’t hesitate to take it.

WORDS: Slade Perrins