BEST OF ONBOARD: René Rast’s blistering Bathurst qualifier

Watching racecars is fun, with all that metal and carbonfibre tearing around a circuit at terribly fast speeds. But some find the inside story more interesting.

If that sounds like you, we’ve handpicked a string of clips that do one simple thing: stow you in the cockpit of a racecars being driven incredibly fast with skill.

We’re dubbing it our Best of Onboard series. And the first instalment takes us to Mount Panorama, early 2016.

It’s the Bathurst 12 Hour enduro, qualifying, and you’re strapped in with René Rast.

As an Audi factory driver Rast’s piloted LMP1 racers and could call big name circuits, like the Nurburgring, his training ground.

He’s also a weapon in the firm’s R8 GT3 LMS car. And despite his global portfolio, he calls Bathurst “one of the best tracks on this planet”.

Such enthusiasm would explain how he pushed the #75 Jamec Pem R8 LMS in last year’s qualifying session to a stunning 2:01.840 lap.

His freakish pace was only bested by race-winner Shane van Gisbergen in a McLaren 650S. And while there's footage of the Macca's 2:01.286 lob, there's more to chew on in Rast's blast.

Tucked up in the top-left corner of view is data like brake pressure and throttle application. Rarely are you treated to such specialised information, which help tell what exactly he does and when.

His team didn’t take the gong. That went to the Tekno McLaren in end. But Rast cemented himself the second person to dip under 2:02 at Bathurst in a tin-top, and the first star of our Best of Onboard series.