The annual track test of Australia's best driver's car gives us a concise insight
into how the field performs dynamically in the hands of a professional racing driver.
And with a new track this year our 14 competitors find themselves competing against a stopwatch
and each other and not against a record book.
The venue for this year's track test is Victoria's tight technical Winton Motor
Raceway.
We'll run the three kilometre long national circuit in a bid to garner the fairest time
possible from a field as diverse as it gets.
First out of the box is the Alpha Romeo Giulia QV, which returns to ABDC after a controversial
DNF result in 2017.
The Giulia QV barks and snarls its way to an impressive lap time we reckon the others
will find hard to beat.
So, the spread of ratios is fantastic, it's straight line performance around this
tight twisted track like Winton, now I find myself having to shift up to third in the
corners a lot, and that's where I'd like to have those peddles for the gearlever that
are fixed to the wheel and not so much the column.
Plenty of power, really good grip, I feel we've started on a really high note and
this car is going to be a tough one to beat.
Working through the field alphabetically Luke heads out in one of the newest entrants
at this year's event, the Audi RS5 Quattro.
Balanced, fast and with all-wheel-drive grip it's quick, but not quick enough to pip
the Alpha Romeo.
Just got a slight understeer tendency in on a faster stop.
The torque's that good that in these slow corner I can actually use third gear, it pulls
out like a dip.
Right, the super impressive time for now is five, that's going surprise a lot.
A huge amount of torque from this engine, the balance is really good, traction phenomenal.
BMW's heavyweight M5 is next, it's twin turbo V8 and aggressive rear oriented
all-drive-system delivering a potent time, just one tenth of a second behind the Alpha.
Well, it's a super impressive time I must say, it actually didn't feel that fast.
The engine's obviously really strong, it hasn't lost any of it's, the previous
M5 dynamic that I've become accustomed to.
Nowhere near as much understeer as expected and quite edgy and you have to have your wits
about you to drive this thing.
For something completely different it's the American muscle of Ford's Mustang GT
pack that hits the track next.
Sporty suspension and tyres and that snorting five litre V8 make short work of the long
Winton circuit.
Super impressive turn from the Mustang, really good traction as well, quite a neutral
balance, a bit of understeer but what you'd expect in a big car like this once it's loaded.
Well, the Ford Mustang has been the surprise packet for me so far.
Really good front-end grip, really good balance, probably just a lack of power has affected
its lap time.
The hard charging front drive Civic Type R is up next and though we know what to expect
from Honda's latest hot hatch, it's how it compares to the field as Australia's
best driver's car that has our judges champing at the bit.
Phenomenal little car, it turns, the engine revs freely, it's an angry little car, but,
man, it behaves so docile in the corners.
This is a very impressive car, well done Honda.
Another recent comparison entrant is Hyundai's new i30n, which surprised our judges with
a lap time within two seconds of the Civic Type R.
The tyres are making a pretty ordinary noise, but I must admit the car's still
turning, so really neutral balance in the i30n, a lot less understeer than expected.
Well, I'm super impressed with the i30n as well.
From someone who drives cars, they've come a long way.
BN Another Korean, the Kia Stinger is up next, the twin turbo V6 and rear-wheel-drive combination
are complete contrast to the four-part-front drive i30n.
In spite of its size the six-cylinder Stinger proves fast around the Winton circuit.
It's fun this car.
Very oversteering when you want it to be.
Really good package for Australia's best driver's car, that's for sure.
It's a lot of fun.
Straightaway it's got a slight oversteer tendency to it, perfect.
Sticking with the rear-drive formula, but with two fewer doors, it's the striking
Lexus LC 500 that hits the track next.
With V8 power and a 10-speed transmission, the big bodied GT car sets a surprising time
against its rivals.
It's going to be tough to beat.
Listen to that engine.
Whip on the down shift, just mega.
With half the field done, it's on to the back seven as Luke jumps behind the wheel
of a pocket-sized Mazda MX-5.
Especially tuned suspension and better brakes place the MX-5 in good stead against larger
and pricier rivals.
Sort of battling to keep the old, the head line up in this thing, with the helmet.
Wish we had a bit of telescopic adjustment to the wheel, it feels quite soft in the back,
which, sort of, roll-steers the back into the corners, it makes it quite, sort of, loose
on those corner entries.
The brakes really kick in and unsettles the car a little bit.
On entry I'd rather not have that, but it is what it is.
From a buzz to a rumble, it's the Mercedes-AMG that next hits the course.
Its stonking V8 a complete contrast to the near silent hum of the MX-5.
Man, this car's got a strong engine, you can feel it straightaway.
And listen to that sound, it's just unbelievable.
Traction's not an issue, just a bit of mid-corner grip lacking, I reckon.
It doesn't feel that fast, obviously it's strong in a straight line.
The stopwatch doesn't lie.
Nissan's track focussed 370Z Nismo is up next in the rear-drive coupe and its fettled
normally aspirated V8 set a better than expected time around the track.
Well, it feels racy that's for sure; it definitely feels like a driver's car.
The lack of an LSD doesn't seem to hurt around this place.
Again, it feels faster than what it actually is, it's probably got a couple of little
things trying to step in for stability control, even though I've got the thing turned off
it still engages a bit.
But overall, in terms of a driver's package, it's a lot of fun.
We're getting to the end of our list and it's very much a battle to avoid the
wooden spoon.
The Renault Clio RS is in the firing line and the turbo charged front driver sets the
slowest time of the day so far.
I think in the company of the Civic Type R and i30n, it's lacking a bit of turn,
actually probably a lot of turn and ground as well.
It's probably a fraction outclassed in this field.
Like the Mazda MX-5 before it, the Subaru BRZ tS is a great handler in need of extra
ground.
Yes, great chassis dynamics, we just, we need some ground to go with it.
I can tell the chassis' going to be a lot better than how well it goes in a straight
line, that's for sure.
Last out of the box, but not the slowest of the day is Suzuki's new turbo charged
Swift Sport.
The tiny front-driver sets a decent time around the track, although Luke reckons better suspension
could make a big difference.
Compared to some of the other cars we have here I feel like I'm driving a bus in terms
of how high I am.
But it feels pretty racy straightaway.
The Swift's quite a surprising little car, it's got a lot more power and torque than
what I thought and it just battles to try and put it to the ground from mid-corner to
exit.
It's a fun little car.
So, it's victory to the V8 Benz on the track ahead of the Alpha and M5.
Power has ruled the day, but will it rule ABDC.
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