MOTOR RACING: The thrill of the high-speed car

8:51pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

By Norman Hayes

THERE is something highly exhilarating about being driven at speeds of more than 140mph in a car six times more powerful than an average road car, but only half the weight.

Such was the case when I visited the nearest race track to Bolton - Cheshire's Oulton Park.

It was arranged for me to be taken for a spin in the newly-designed Ginetta Sports Car, built in Yorkshire, which will be competing in the British Grand Touring Championship of 2008.

The car has a 3.5-litre Ford V6 engine which develops about 300 brake horsepower and I was lucky enough to be one of its first passengers.

It was a struggle to climb into the car because of its standard safety rollover bar.

I was belted into a full harness, complete with central buckle to allow one clip escape.

As the car went into maximum acceleration all my body's inner components felt as though they were being moved up against my spine as I was pressed back into the seat of the car.

The car felt like it was glued to the track as we hit the first left-hand bend at Cascades.

As we approached I thought we would never get round, but my driver pointed the car into the corner and shot out the other side as if it was a straight part of the track.

Then there was a long straight, but it did not feel that long as the car went above 140mph before the driver blipped the throttle three times while changing down for the corner and then hitting the brakes.

This time the deceleration was so intense that my head moved forward so uncontrollably that I banged my head on the rollover bar and my innards felt like they were trying to burst through my chest wall.

We went round the circuit three times and it got better and better with each lap as I became accustomed to the immense acceleration and deceleration of the car.

lThe 29th annual motorcycle sprint takes place at Hoghton Tower, near Preston, on Sunday April 6.

The event is a half-mile time trial up the drive of Hoghton Tower. It starts at 1pm, but there are practice sessions from 10am. Entry is £8.

Olympic silver medal for Jason