The Bend Porsche GT3 Cup Experience - What Does It Feel Like At 250?

It’s quick. Blisteringly quick. You feel it in your stomach, your eyes swimming as they are pushed back inside of your skull. The straight wizzes past, the grandstands disappearing as quick as you reached them, gone in a blur. Before you know it, the straight stretch of tarmac has ended, and you’re hurtling towards turn one. The distance markers flash by, and the corner appears. Before you can think, you’re thrown into the apex, the G-forces holding you to the side. This is what was felt through The Bend Motorsport Park’s Hotlap Experience. 

On a recent brisk yet bright Sunday morning, I had the opportunity to experience a series of hotlaps in a Porsche GT3 Cup. Located on the world-renowned circuit approximately 90 minutes out from the Adelaide CBD, The Bend Driving Experiences offer everyday individuals the chance to feel the thrill of a racecar, whether that be through a 5.0L Mustang, V8 Supercar or the incredible GT3 Cup. I was lucky enough to be presented with the latter. My helmet and neck-brace were put in place, before the screeching of brakes left the car before me. I buckled in, greeted the driver, and off we went. 

The acceleration was immense. The narrow pitlane flew past, before the track opened up and we were onto the last portion of straight. The first corner came unexpected. A feeling like none other rose from from my stomach, through my lungs as the car was propelled towards the apex. Turn two and three came next, the sweeping left then right before the car could be utilised to its full potential. A long, obtuse turn five was tackled at 180+km/h, and was where I could really feel the car being planted. The hairpin was next; the slowest part of this layout at a mere 70km/h, before another sweeping right and an extremely long left. The gearbox was overpowering; a mechanical symphony of race mechanics and the flat-6 behind us. The last few corners had the same effect, with unbelievable grip sourced from a seemingly impossible situation. And then there was the straight again. The GT3 cut through the gears, the speedometer continued to rise. 250km/h. And then that first corner. What does it feel like at 250? Miraculous, unworldly and simply staggering.