Let's race! What happened when Sportsmail took on the Australian Grand Prix... on the UK's only full motion Formula One simulator

By Phil Duncan for the Daily Mail

Published: 11:07 EST, 27 April 2014 | Updated: 11:12 EST, 27 April 2014

I sit nervously waiting patiently from my mechanic for the signal. There it is. He's calling me forward. Right; select first gear, and ease softly on the accelerator.

I look to my left. Is the pit-lane clear? Yes. Go slowly on the throttle once more, and stick to the speed limit. We don't want a hefty fine and a trip to the stewards.

One flap on the right lever underneath my steering wheel; there is a mechanical jolt, my head knocks forward, but I am into second gear.

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Now, push harder on the accelerator to take us across the white line over the pit exit and on to the Albert Park Circuit. I am qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Now, this is serious.

Third gear. Bolt. Fourth gear. Bolt. Fifth gear, my head knocks forward, once more.

Now remember, what they told you. The tyres will be cold. The brakes, too. Ease yourself in. Find the traction, hit the braking zones and, most importantly, stay on the black stuff.

But should I be braking 100 metres before turn 1? Or was it 75 metres? Perhaps it was 150? I can't remember. It's a blur; the Albert Park scenery meanwhile is flashing by in my peripheral vision.

I slam on the anchors, but should I take the chicane in third or fourth gear? I think I was advised to be in third, but I can't recall. Suddenly my brain is scrambled. Three clicks on the downshift, and the engine screams at me in agony. I'm in second. I should be one gear better off, but I patiently navigate turns 1 and 2, before easing back on to the throttle.

Now, where does the track go from here? I've watched every race in Melbourne since its inception in 1996, but suddenly I am suffering from a short dose of amnesia. Should I be moving over to the left hand side of the track?  Ot the right? Where is the racing line?

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Then I see it in the distance, and I remember; turn 3 - where Martin Brundle had that massive shunt in his Jordan almost 20 years ago - I don't want to emulate him, but unfortunately it's too late.

I miss my braking point. My right-left tyre locks up. This doesn't look good. I desperately try to sling my car back on the apex, but I am only going in one direction, and that's towards the gravel.

Three corners into my professional motor racing career, and rather embarrassingly, I, along with my shiny, multi-million pound machinery, am beached in the gravel. Pathetic.

Fortunately my rather humbling experience didn't come at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but rather a short stint behind the wheel of a state-of-the-art simulator in Surrey earlier this year.

Complete with not one, but three screens, I was thrust in at the deep end at 'Let's Race', - the venue of the UK's only full motion F1 simulator - and given 20 minutes to prove I had what it took to become the next Lewis Hamilton. 

I, like many others, knew of the prize on offer; a day's testing with Formula Three outfit Carlin - a team which has seen the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg pass through its ranks.

You're up: Given 20 minutes to become the next Lewis Hamilton

Pressure: Victory could have meant a test day with F3 team Carlin

Once safely navigated out of the gravel and back on to the track, I began to steadily improve, and so did my lap times. The thrill of hitting 200mph on the pit straight and the danger of enduring a rather unpleasant date with the concrete wall, had me on edge throughout; albeit it behind the wheel of a beefed-up computer game.

The car however, was so responsive; like nothing I have driven before. Too early on the accelerator and the back would come round to bite you in the bottom. But too slow, and you'd lose temperature in your tyres and brakes and face an uphill journey for the remainder of the lap.

After 12 tours of the Albert Park Circuit my best time is around the 1 minute 50 seconds mark. A good time, I am told, if it was wet. RIght. Dream over.

I'm given a debrief on the telemntary afterwards. Too early on the brakes, not quick enough on the throttle, wrong gear selection. It isn't pretty, and then I am informed my best lap is some 16 seconds shy of the fastest in the competition so far. That's rather disappointing. I'm rather disappointed.

While I may not be the next Hamilton in waiting, there are those at there who just might - and this competition is aimed at encouraging Formula One's next generation. Think Formula One meets the X Factor.

Multi screen: Not one, but three screens give you a fine racing experience

'This is a great opportunity for people to get involved in motor racing,' says Marussia driver Max Chilton.

'Formula Three is where is starts for so many people, so I would recommend anyone who loves racing to try it out for themselves.'

The quickest drivers from round one - unsurprisingly I didn't make the cut - will then take part in a karting event at Buckmore Park in Kent, where several heats will whittle the competition down to only the most-skilled drivers.

From there they will head to the Carlin team factory and an interview with a panel of Formula One experts including 1964 world champion John Surtees.

'I am very pleased to be part of Lets Race to Reality and offer competitors the chance to experience something that is normally out of reach for even the most ardent motorsport fan,' Surtees says.

Great experience: Marussia driver Max Chilton praised the event