Ultimate Speed Comparison

To understand the true power of the modern day Formula 1™ car, the 2012 Formula 1™ Qantas Australian Grand Prix held the Ultimate Speed Comparison to test its superior power and drivability against a road car and race car in a demonstration of performance.

In 2012 Mick Doohan – driving a Mercedes Benz C63 Black Series – took on Scott Pye in the Triple Eight Racing V8 Supercar and Garry Paffett in the McLaren MP4-26 Formula One car, men and machines pitted against one another in a test of skill and speed to see who was fastest.

A demonstration for the fans, each driver was, nevertheless, fiercely competitive and determined to see his ride take the chequered flag in first place. Doohan took the first two races of the series ahead of Pye and Paffett, with Paffett gunning his F1 car to victory in the second two races of the series, Doohan second and Pye third.

Over the course of the event, a handicap time was determined in order for the Mercedes Benz C63 Black Series, the V8 Supercar and the McLaren Formula One car to cross the finish line at the same time after travelling the 5.3 kilometre track.