Get up to speed at dreamworld in australia's first v8 supercars virtual experience

Motoring fans across the nation can unleash the beast within and find out what it’s like to be King of the Mountain when Australia’s first full-motion virtual V8 Supercars experience opens at Dreamworld.

The V8 Supercars RedLine puts contenders in the driver’s seat of one of four V8 Supercars; branded with the livery of champion racing cars driven by Craig Lowndes, Greg Murphy, Mark Winterbottom and Cameron McConville.

Fitted with collision detection and real dynamic mechanical vibration, the virtual ride straps challengers into a 360 degree racing world, with motion cues to support the streaming action on extra wide screens in front of the cars. Drivers will feel the roar of the motor as they pit asphalt against controls and follow in the tread marks of the legendary red and blue racing teams.

Dreamworld CEO, Noel Dempsey said the team was determined to bring the simulator racing cars to Australia after first experiencing them in the USA. The trick was to adapt the technology to Australian conditions.

“Nothing thunders through the body like the roar of a V8 engine and nothing appeals to Australian driving enthusiasts more than the battle at Bathurst. We’ve brought the technology from the US and partnered with what is at heart a deeply revered Aussie sport, V8 Supercars racing.

Mr Dempsey added that RedLine racing is as real as it gets without spending half a million dollars building a car and taking it track side.

“The attention to detail is incredible. You can actually feel the asphalt push against the steering wheel as you work through turns and chicanes,” he said. “Aside from the three other Redline simulators, drivers compete against 21 computer generated cars that scream in and out of peripheral vision on the three display screens.

“Even the rear view mirror shows the on-track action as challengers creep close enough to clip your bumper. Just like a real race, you can also experience the jarring impact of a crash at high speeds.”

The V8 Supercars RedLine opens racing to a broader community, including enthusiasts not old enough or not deep pocketed enough to experience the real thing.

Explained GM Operations, Rob Buchanan, “Sitting in a real V8 Supercar and racing champion drivers is something that very few people get to experience, but the RedLine experience gives Dreamworld guests the chance to dice with the pros for the fastest time in a virtual world.”

“Champion drivers are used to handling vehicles on the raceway but there is a whole generation of video gamers out there that have been honing their hand-eye coordination since they first learned to walk. It’s going to be very interesting to see who handles the simulators better, the drivers or the gamers.”

Drivers get a choice of three tracks. However, for the Australian audience, the ultimate target is Bathurt’s Mount Panorama, regarded as one of the greatest motorsport circuits in the world.

“What we want people to do is sharpen their driving skills on the first two tracks before ascending to the grand daddy of them all, the legendary Mount Panorama. It’s the toughest track of all, and at the end of the day, it is the holy grail of racing in this country,” said Mr Buchanan.

Anyone can participate in the fun of V8 Supercars RedLine. Drivers must be at least 130 cm, while passengers must be 18kg and four years of age or above. Spectators can cheer from the viewing platform on the sideline and watch the driver stats on digital screens.

Each driver must participate in a short briefing video before their race. After the race, they meet in the winner’s podium and receive a printout detailing individual lap times and finishing orders, enabling them to compare results and challenge each other to additional races.

Touring the attraction prior to launch on December 16 was V8 Supercars drivers Craig Lowndes and Cameron McConville.

Dreamworld’s V8 Supercars RedLine will open to the public before Christmas. Ten dollar Driver’s Passes and $5.00 Passenger Passes can be booked at www.dreamworld.com.au