It sounds impossible. A Honda Civic EG hatchback overtaking a big, bad Holden Commodore? The same car many kids purchase and punch holes in the muffler to make it sound “fast”? Yes. It happened, and it was thanks to some very hot driving skills.
At a support race for the Bathurst 12 Hours in Australia, the little Civic that could met a Holden Commodore in an ongoing battle of power versus agility. And the course doesn’t necessarily favor outright speed. Mount Panorama Circuit is quite the technical course. You know, since it’s been etched out on the side of a mountain.
As the corners tighten, the Commodore begins to slow as it takes more stopping power to keep the big sedan under control. Not so for the Civic. The driver keeps light on the brakes, dives and ends up right smack on the Commodore’s buttocks. Then, with a quick flick of the car, the Civic slingshots right by the Commodore and pulls away before the next straight.
It’s seriously skilled stuff to pull off, especially at a Bathurst race. The technique, the finesse, everything is spot on to make a pass like this happen. The commentators share our feelings and go mad following the brilliant show of skill, too. Have look at the pass in the video right up above.
Comment
Would’ve hated to have seen the fronts come off that Civic after a few moves like that, though. They’d be blistered to buggery. Also, that was just a VP Commodore and most likely just a V6 one at that, meaning it would be slow.