The format for the Summer Series is short, sharp, and brutal:
One day of racing
Only 20 minutes of practice
Two heat races + one all-in final under lights
No time to get comfortable — Lachlan had just 20 minutes to learn how a front-wheel-drive car behaves, find the grip, and get up to speed. I was on the radio the whole way, coaching him through each corner.
To make things even more interesting, I’ve got another event coming up in two weeks… so bringing the car home in one piece was non-negotiable.
From the first laps, Lachlan was quick to adapt. You could tell he’s got racecraft — calm on comms, smooth inputs, and no panic even when the car started to move around. He kept pace with some very experienced Excel drivers.
After the first session, he jumped out of the car grinning ear-to-ear. “It’s so different to the Vee,” he said. “Way hotter, heavier steering, but I love it.”
In Heat 1, Lachlan started from fourth and went wheel-to-wheel straight away. Watching my car race without me behind the wheel was a weird feeling — I was probably more nervous than he was. But he drove smart, kept his nose clean, and brought it home solidly mid-pack.
Heat 2 brought changing conditions as the sun set. Cooler track temps, shifting grip levels, and headlights that weren’t quite doing their job made things tricky. Still, he fought hard and finished strong — even saving a huge moment at Turn 1 that could’ve easily ended in disaster.
Then came the Final — a full-field night race. Another first for Lachlan. Limited visibility, tight traffic, and plenty of chaos. He held his own, stayed consistent, and clocked his best lap time of the day in the final few laps.
After three races, zero damage, and a car still in one piece, I couldn’t have been happier. Lachlan handled everything like a pro — fast, composed, and respectful of the machinery.
It was awesome seeing someone new experience the Excel for the first time and prove just how accessible and rewarding grassroots racing can be.
Lachlan’s performance earned him a seat alongside me for the Circuit Excel Enduro later this year — our first event sharing the #95 Exo Terra Quinn Racing Excel.
Massive thanks to everyone who supports us and helps make weekends like this possible:
Exo Terra | Seaview Aquarium | AquaLabs | Aqua One | API | KJ Built | Excel Garage
