Motorsport is something that's difficult to truly appreciate until you've experienced it from inside a race car. Watching from the sidelines is one thing, but feeling the braking forces, cornering speeds and physical demands of a racing car is an entirely different experience. Each year, Circuit Excel SA teams up with Mallala Motorsport Park to host its annual Passenger Ride Day, giving drivers the opportunity to share their passion with friends, family and sponsors. For Quinn Racing, it's one of our favourite events on the calendar, providing a rare opportunity to give something back to the people who support us throughout the racing season. This year, we had a packed guest list, with everyone from family members and sponsors to competition winners lining up for a few laps in the passenger seat of our #95 Hyundai Excel.
Our day began with some familiar faces taking their first rides around Mallala. Mum, Dad and Lauren were among the early passengers, and it didn't take long for them to discover just how physical a race car can be. Despite its relatively modest power, the Hyundai Excel is a purpose-built racing machine with stiff suspension, powerful brakes and plenty of grip. Dad was particularly surprised by how violent the experience felt compared to watching from the sidelines, describing the ride as far bumpier than expected and being amazed by the car's braking performance. Even Lily, who had recently spent three days navigating alongside Cameron during the Adelaide Rally, admitted to feeling nervous before heading back out on track. Throughout the day, the reactions were remarkably similar. Almost everyone climbed out of the car surprised by just how fast, loud and physically demanding the experience had been. It was fantastic to finally show our family and friends what racing actually feels like from inside the cockpit.
While the passenger day is an opportunity to have some fun, it's also an important chance for us to give back to the people who make our racing possible. Our sponsors provide invaluable support throughout the season, and getting them into the passenger seat allows them to experience exactly what they're helping us achieve. We also invited four competition winners to join us, giving some of our followers the opportunity to experience a race car for themselves. Among our guests were fellow content creators, a motorsport photographer and even a volunteer flag marshal who had never previously sat inside a race car. It's easy to forget that many of the people who contribute to motorsport spend their time watching from behind a camera or a safety barrier, rather than experiencing the action firsthand. Seeing their reactions made the day particularly rewarding, with one guest describing the adrenaline, braking forces and cornering grip as something completely different from what he'd imagined. Another climbed out of the car absolutely buzzing, admitting he'd never expected to have quite so much fun.
After several hours behind the wheel, Cameron handed driving duties over to Lachie, allowing him to take his own friends and family out for some laps. Lachie normally competes in Formula Vee, a single-seat open-wheel racing category, so opportunities to share his racing experiences with passengers are understandably limited. Having access to the Excel's second seat gave him a rare chance to show his own supporters what it's like out on track. With Lachie taking over, the passenger rides continued throughout the afternoon. During a scheduled break to give the track marshals an opportunity for dinner, Mallala also organised go-karts to keep our guests entertained while the circuit was temporarily closed. It was a fantastic addition to an already busy day, giving everyone something else to enjoy before the evening session began. With the break over, it was time to get back into the Excel and continue working through our ever-growing list of passengers.
As the sun began to set, we headed back onto the circuit for our final passenger sessions. By this point, we'd already spent hours circulating Mallala, but there were still a few guests keen to experience the Excel. The evening brought some of the best reactions of the entire day, with passengers discovering that a lightweight racing car can feel incredibly fast, even without supercar levels of horsepower. By the time we finally parked the car, we'd taken 18 guests for more than 100 laps of Mallala Motorsport Park. Unsurprisingly, that amount of driving came at a cost. We'd burned through approximately 80 litres of fuel, worn through a set of front brakes and given the tyres a considerable workout. But despite the substantial toll on our racing consumables, it was worth every bit of it. Seeing everyone climb out of the car with huge smiles, and occasionally looking a little shaken, made the entire experience worthwhile.
The annual Circuit Excel SA Passenger Ride Day is a fantastic reminder that motorsport is about so much more than lap times, championship points and race results. It's about the people you meet, the friendships you build and the experiences you get to share along the way.
For Quinn Racing, being able to give our friends, family, sponsors and supporters a genuine taste of what we do is incredibly rewarding. Whether it was someone's first time inside a race car or an opportunity for a long-time supporter to finally experience the action, every passenger helped make the day memorable.
A huge thank you to Circuit Excel SA and Mallala Motorsport Park for organising the event, and to everyone who came along to join us. Most importantly, thank you to the sponsors and supporters who continue to make our racing possible.
With the passenger day behind us, our attention now turns to the 2026 Circuit Excel SA Championship, and another exciting season for Quinn Racing.
We can't wait to get back on track. See you at the races!
