Lance Hastie
Editor www.car.co.nz

T2 race car: the ultimate in experiences
Compare bungee jumping or any other form of extreme experience to that of New Zealand’s only two-seater F3 race car.

You can’t.

The T2 experience is one of the rarest opportunities to experience G forces and acceleration claimed to be only equalled by an F18 fighter jet, and its right here in New Zealand.
Owned and run by the Templeman family, the T2 car is a 2001 F3 racer that has been stretched by 700mm to allow a passenger to sit directly behind the driver.
Powered by the Open Spiess race engine, at 210bhp it has an acceleration figure of 0-100km/h in 3.8s and top speed of 220-230km/h.

Run at Pukekohe as part of a corporate ride package, those lucky enough to be able to take a ride now belong to an exclusive club that I believe blows bungee jumping down the list – just ask the few who have been privy to try the experience.
Advertised at being able to run at any official race circuit, the T2 ride package can be tailored to corporate, branding exercises, or simply for those who want an extreme experience.
You can now have a mind extending ride that only drivers of high performance open-wheel race cars can relate to – or F18 fighter pilots, apparently.
Taking a lap around the 2.8km Pukekohe loop was simply awing. With the engine directly behind, the vibration was so intense it took a lap for the brain to finally clear the ‘warning’ message and let the experience really take hold. Aside from the massive corner G-forces, braking and acceleration plied by driver Daynom Templeman, looking past the driver and relating that to the display of engine RPM and ground speed put things in to perspective. While seated low in the car, the driver sits even lower, giving good vision ahead either around or through the roll protection hoop.
Comfortably reaching and holding 225km/h down the front and back straights of the Pukekohe track, bragging rights stay with anyone who can claim to be doing terminal velocity through the ‘Jennian Homes Sweeper’ and approach the ‘esses’ at over 200km/h – every lap.

Thanks go to the Templeman family for making available the opportunity to do something that will hard to be ever beaten.

As I thought that things couldn’t top the day off and was about to leave, Ross MacKay pulled me aside and introduced me to the Templeman family who have brought the tandem Formula 3 car to New Zealand and quickly offered me a chance to experience what the wings and slicks formula is all about.

So in I squeezed my 6 foot frame into the back seat of the car, with Toyota Racing Series driver Daynom Templeman in the driver’s seat and quickly we were out onto the track for the first of what proved to be five totally exhilarating laps.

What I experienced is extremely hard to put into words. My most vivid memories are of the wind fighting with my helmet, the awesome braking going into corners and the astounding speed at which the car can take the corners. My grin from the Star Cars had now expanded from a half-mile wide to an almost uncontrollable full mile.

The Formula 3 2-seater car has to be one of the ultimate adventure thrills for any seeking to experience “true” speed. It takes what one sees in virtual racing and turns it into the real thing. New Zealand has a genuine additional product to offer the adrenaline-junkie.

The car is primarily to be used for corporate days but will be an absolute must for any thrill-seeker who enjoys the ultimate adventure ride.

Many thanks to the the Takes 2 team for what proved to be a day I will never forget. (At least, not until I get a Formula 1 drive)!