Motorsport: Famous turn eight the talking point in Adelaide

Scott McLaughlin is interviewed by the media in Adelaide. Photo / Getty Images

The Supercars had their first two hit outs on the street of Adelaide this morning and the field made it through without any casualties.

Practice session one was more of a sighting event with drivers checking out the track and how the changes to turns seven and eight will affect a flying lap. Jamie Whincup topped the timing sheets with two Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen inside the top five. Andre Heimgartner, Fabian Coulthard and Richie Stanaway were all mid-pack.

Practice two saw McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen sit one, two and the rest of the Kiwis all improving as well.

The talking point though, has been the resurfaced Turn Eight, the fasted corner at Adelaide, and bar Bathurst, probably on any track in the calendar.

McLaughlin was once talking fans through a flying lap and the only time he was quiet was through the infamous Turn Eight, and you could hear him breath out when he got though. On an aside, can you imagine having to do that lap after lap after lap?

Anyway, there's also a great picture of the Kiwi mid corner with the inside front wheel off the tarmac — now that's got be right on the ragged edge. So, who better for the Herald to chat to about Turn Eight than the man himself straight after practice.

"It's pretty full on through there that's for sure," he said. "There's not too much load on the car it's more the load on your sphincter shall we say.

"The thing is that there's less grip, but we go through faster. You come off Turn Seven faster because it's been resurfaced so you throw it [the car] in faster and harder into Turn Eight now.

"For the first time so far this weekend I got it really nice and it was full on."

The last time the drivers where punting their respective V8s around in anger was November last year at Newcastle. No matter how much time you put in the gym, or mountain bike riding, nothing prepares you for two 250 kilometer races around one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.

"Fabs [Coulthard] had a really good analogy. It's like a golfer who goes out to play after not playing for God knows how long. After the game you've got sore muscles you never knew you had.

"It's the same for us. We're not match fit and after the first race of the weekend you discover muscles you'd forgotten you had. These two races this weekend are really physically hard. If you get through the two of them alright you're set up for the rest of the season," said McLaughlin.

Last year McLaughlin got the new DJR Team Penske car and this year it's Coulthard's turn. However, it isn't really that much of big deal as McLaughlin explains.

"My car is from last year but basically it is brand new and everything is good. There's a few niggling vibrations but nothing crazy and we'll get it sorted. I've just got to tune up my driving and the car a little bit and we'll be sorted.

"Everyone's going to be faster as the weekend goes on."

To get the day's top sports stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here