13-car S5000 field completes "wonderful" final test at Phillip Island

A record number of S5000 cars has hit the track for the first time, as the series undertook its final test day before its debut round at Sandown this weekend.

Thirteen cars rolled out onto the Phillip Island Circuit, with John Martin for AGI Sport and Time Macrow for MTEC Motorsport both setting the fastest lap times.

Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello said “It’s wonderful to drive the car and this race track, and the car is so powerful so it’s nice to drive.”

“I was getting better and better as the day went on. I felt like a young man driving it – it was nice to feel the wind on my face again driving it. I’ve been driving touring cars for seven years so you don’t get that feeling anymore.”

Barton Mawer was the first to test the strength of the Onroak-Ligier chassis, with his S5000 coming unstuck on pit straight and making heavy contact with the wall.

Tom Alexander had a hair-raising brush with the tyre barrier, but his car was reportedly undamaged.

Will Brown said “I’m lucky I brought a spare pair of undies for the first session. The cars are an absolute beast!”

All attention now turns to the series debut at Sandown this weekend, which commences with two practice sessions on Friday.