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whiteballz
02-20-2011, 09:21 PM
The Bathurst Regional Council has given Vodafone approval to use the Mount Panorama circuit on March 22, when Craig Lowndes will complete five laps in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car.


A council meeting last night approved the event, with CAMS set to have the final say on the proposal. Both Vodafone and the Council expect it to be a formality.


Lowndes, who has never driven an F1 car before, will steer the team’s de-speced machine for five laps around the 6.213km circuit, while Jenson Button will complete five laps in TeamVodafone’s Commodore VE ride car.
The Vodafone stunt is similar to what the telecommunications giant undertook at the Albert Park circuit last year, which saw Jamie Whincup drive the McLaren around the Grand Prix street track.


“From a council perspective, we’ve given it the go ahead,” a Bathurst Regional Council representative told Speedcafe.com.au.
“Now, it’s just a matter of other elements being sorted out.”


Under council regulations, the Mount Panorama circuit can only be closed off for full-track events five times a year. Currently four of those allocated slots are taken up (Bathurst 1000, Bathurst 12 Hour, the Bathurst Motor Festival and Drive Bathurst). The Vodafone F1 drive takes up the fifth and final allocated closure.


It is expected that permission from CAMS will be granted to Vodafone within a week.


March 22, 2011. is the date people.

csl177
02-20-2011, 09:30 PM
Cool. An F1 car will be a treat to see (if a bit of a handful) on that track... especially turns 11 through 18. The Dipper? :eek:

pimento
02-20-2011, 09:36 PM
It'll be great to see, but it's kind of a shame it's being done by a 'rookie' driver. To see it being thrashed around there by someone who knows both the car and the track would be pretty special.

IBrake4Rainbows
02-21-2011, 12:14 AM
I seriously expect it to get stuck at Skyline, perform a barrel roll and burst into flames.

And no one will be able to call 000 because Vodafone's network won't cover Mt. Panorama.

csl177
02-21-2011, 12:36 AM
You are entirely too optimistic.

VOGUE_MAN
02-21-2011, 12:41 AM
It would be interesting to see, on television though, I wouldn't leave the house for it.

pimento
02-21-2011, 04:43 AM
I seriously expect it to get stuck at Skyline, perform a barrel roll and burst into flames.

And no one will be able to call 000 because Vodafone's network won't cover Mt. Panorama.

I'll pop up just in case, my other phone is on Optus... oh wait..

clutch-monkey
02-21-2011, 05:04 AM
And no one will be able to call 000 because Vodafone's network won't cover Mt. Panorama.
well played sir.. :D

IBrake4Rainbows
02-21-2011, 05:17 AM
No, seriously. this is first hand experience.

whiteballz
03-13-2011, 11:34 PM
Well It's up on the CAMS website, so I've shift swapped and will be there camera in hand to take pics and maybe video of part of the event.

I'm not sure wheres the best place to view it though. I'd love to see the acceleration heading up and down the hill.. But also want interesting photos so maybe the top of the hill?

Either way. Who is coming?


VODAFONE BATHURST FORMULA 1 DEMONSTRATION RUN
Event ID: 21989
Event Name: VODAFONE BATHURST FORMULA 1 DEMONSTRATION RUN
Date: 22/03/2011 - 22/03/2011
Venue: mt panorama
Event Type: R7S
Event Type Name: Category A/B track Sponsor/Ride/Corporate Ride Day
Event Level: Club
IMMS Discipline: Auto Test
Organiser: VODAFONE HUTCHISON AUSTRALIA
Permit Number: 811/2203/01
Event Status: Calendered
State: NSW

whiteballz
03-21-2011, 10:00 PM
It was awesome.

whiteballz
03-21-2011, 11:25 PM
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/whiteballz/Team%20Vodafone%20At%20Bathurst/DSC_0101.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/whiteballz/Team%20Vodafone%20At%20Bathurst/DSC_0041_800x600.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/whiteballz/Team%20Vodafone%20At%20Bathurst/DSC_0068.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/whiteballz/Team%20Vodafone%20At%20Bathurst/DSC_0105.jpg

Savageduck
03-22-2011, 08:56 PM
…and here we have:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTOdCC4GtM4&feature=player_embedded

Matra et Alpine
03-23-2011, 03:18 AM
Man I want to see more of the helicopter tracking shots on the top of the mountain :)

Hope someone releases an HD "cinematic experience" !!!!!

whiteballz
03-23-2011, 03:25 PM
I hope so, This being a marketing stunt I'm sure a hi-def video will make its way out there.

whiteballz
03-25-2011, 06:00 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4XVF3jJL5Q

Enjoy!

Matra et Alpine
03-25-2011, 06:23 PM
awesome :)

LeonOfTheDead
03-25-2011, 06:25 PM
How much quicker than a V8 car was it?
I have to admit, I'm relatively ignorant when it comes to Bathurst. I remember playing with some early Gran Turismo version back in the days, thinking the RX-7 Bathurst was just a weird name a special edition. I mean it is a special edition, I just thought it was a random name and not a celebration of a track.

whiteballz
03-25-2011, 06:32 PM
IIRC track record for the V8 Supercars is around 2:05? I don't really remember (Might be off by a large way)

But the F1 was 18 seconds faster than the record if I recall correctly.

Matra et Alpine
03-26-2011, 02:04 AM
thinking the RX-7 Bathurst was just a weird name a special edition. I mean it is a special edition, I just thought it was a random name and not a celebration of a track.
Not just the track, but three consecutive years of winning the Bathurst 12 hour race they had a tradition of then using the name Bathurst on the ultra lightweight specisls they'd release in Japan.

Like the Astra Nuburgring .... oh wait ...... no, NOTHING like the Astra - that's just marketing BS/hype :)