Position vacant: Fastrack V8 hot laps driver

Clammy palms, unknown faces and the occasional disarming question: this could well be any job interview, only for a few tell-tale differences.

Well, maybe more than a few. With speeds exceeding 200km/h, a racetrack as the location and a camera capturing your correspondent’s handy work, this is a job interview like few others.

The backdrop is Sydney Motorsport Park and carsales is auditioning for a role that would be the envy of many – a professional hot lap driver.

If the idea of ferrying slightly unsuspecting members of the public around some of Australia’s best circuits (safely and professionally) in a V8 sedan piques your interest, this is the job for you.

Australian company Fastrack V8 Race is on the hunt for a suitable applicant to fill a 12-month contract and has opened the door to anyone and everyone to put forward their application.

The job entails about 70 working days over 12 months, at a rate of $500 daily. Flights, ground transport, meals and accommodation are covered, with the role covering a mix of weekdays and weekends.

Fastrack V8 Race is synonymous with Red Balloon experience vouchers, the kind where participants turn up to drive converted Holden SS Commodores and Ford Falcon XR8s on some of Australia’s racing circuits, Bathurst and Tailem Bend included.

A major component of the V8 Race experience is traditional hot laps, riding shotgun in a car steered by a qualified steerer; usually an ex- or current racer.

In recent years, George ‘Hollywood’ Elliot has been the incumbent hot lap driver. However, he has recently decided to hand the reins to someone fresh seeking new opportunities.

The job hunt formally commences in August with the first of four auditions.

“I’ve always maintained that there’s more talent sitting in the grandstands than there are in race cars; they just never get the chance,” he says.

“We’re giving people that opportunity. Come and show us what you’ve got and you could end up with a fantastic job. You get to put a smile on people’s faces, that’s the best part of the job and what keeps you coming back.”

Capturing the attention of decision makers isn’t a case of simply sending off a resume and cover letter and hoping for an interview.

To be eligible for the 12-month hot laps driver contract, applicants must first front for an audition day commencing around the country in August, at a cost of $1250.

There, they will be given two 10-lap sessions at a choice of select circuits and judged on numerous criteria: car control and safety, decision making abilities, people skills and racetrack craft.

The judging takes place on the day by V8 Race personnel, and later on in a video review of each applicant. An independent assessor is also on hand to ensure no-one is given unfair preference.

The top 10 applicants qualify for an additional drive day, race drive seminar and final interview. At the end of that process, each applicant gets three laps to post their fastest time, with the winner securing the 12-month contract.

The Fastrack V8 Race fleet comprises an eclectic mix of Aussie metal that shares one thing in common: a V8 engine.

There are various derivatives of late-model Falcons and Commodores – typically FGs and VEs, respectively – that started life as XR8s and SS road cars.

In hot lap guise, each employs the same Dunlop slick rubber and AP Racing brakes as the Supercars series, gets a roll cage, open exhaust system and tweaks to wheel camber and suspension.

Engines remain largely unchanged in tune and capacity, sending drive to the rear wheels via the standard H-pattern manual gearbox.

Settling into the driver’s seat for the first time, in our case a VE-era SS Commodore, there are clear links to the production model, though there is a decidedly stripped-out feel to the interior.

There’s a six-point harness and deep bucket seat, Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and repurposed dashboard centre fascia combine with the car’s original instrument cluster, window switchgear and turn-key that works in concert with a push button, for instance.

The V8 Race experience feels decidedly visceral behind the wheel compared with the polished corporate feel of manufacturer-run drive days, the likes of which are now offered from Volkswagen through to Maserati.

Steering circa-1700kg Holden Commodores might not initially excite the senses as much as, say, a Porsche 911, but the manual shift, raucous exhaust note and open windows create a true point of difference from most other drive days.

The day begins with a standard driver briefing, which covers everything from changing gears to safety parameters including passing other vehicles.

Then, it’s time to suit up and saddle up. A helper straps me into the Commodore’s deep racing buckets, and my instructor/interviewee introduces himself with a warm, friendly smile.

“G’day, Mal’s my name.”

My coach/interviewee for today is Mal Rose, an Australian racer whose resume includes success at circuits spanning Bathurst to the Nurburgring.

Rose is one of the senior coaches at Fastrack V8 Race and has seen all manner of drivers come through the regular drive days. The successful applicant, he says, will need to be calm, composed and comfortable behind the wheel.

Rose soon takes control of the rear-view mirror to ensure rear-ward safety and instructs me to amble out of the pits. Each corner is marked by braking, entry, apex and exit markers, denoting the correct racing line.

“I want you to go out there and build up to speed, there’s no point approaching it like a bull at a gate,” he explains. “Go out there and feel the grip of the tyres, feel the pressure on the brakes, feel how long the clutch travel and gear lever travel is.

“Just spend the first lap getting a feel for the circuit; don’t try and beat the lap record because you’re an indoor go-kart champion. Just find your level of grip and we’ll encourage to go faster.”

That soon becomes the process; with Mal and I communicating via the car’s intercom system, I build speed around a revised version of the old Eastern Creek Grand Prix circuit.

The Commodore feels surprisingly willing and fun around the circuit, notwithstanding its large-car origins. Speeds exceed 200km/h down the main straight and 170km/h down the back straight, its six-speed manual gearbox spending all of its time in the third and fourth ratios.

Ten laps comes and goes quickly. Mal provides a largely positive, constructive assessment of my driving: “You’re doing well Sam, smooth and consistent.

“My only criticism is your corner speed through turn one. Your minimum speed at the moment is about 160-170km/h – you could hold about 180km/h with a bit more commitment.”

We go over more of the session from the pits, before returning to the SMP layout. Confidence grows gradually and soon your correspondent is turning in what seems like competitive lap times, despite tyre pressures of up to 37psi on the hot surface.

Mal is constantly evaluating my demeanour, consistency and skills shown throughout the second 10-lap session, albeit benignly. Again, the stint comes and goes quickly, and we soon pull into the pits to finish the session.

“Great job, Sam,” reports my instructor.

The sentiments are promising; carsales might be in for a crack at the second audition, which Fastrack organises and pays for at its own expense.

The process from here on in is the same as any other prospective job application – “don’t call us, we’ll call you”.

And so, the waiting game begins.

Fastrack V8 Race Hot Laps Driver Auditions
When and where (subject to change):
Sydney Motorsport Park NSW – August 9, September 6;
Sandown Raceway VIC – August 31, October 20;
Barbagallo Raceway WA – September 26;
The Bend Motorsport Park SA – October 6
Why: Fastrack V8 Race is searching for up-and-coming talent to be its official hot laps driver on a 12-month contract
How: More information and entries can be found at fastrackv8race.com.au