F1 racer turned TV commentator impressed by Team 18 Supercar
F1 racer turned TV commentator impressed by Team 18 Supercar
Jolyon Palmer took Anton De Pasquale around Albert Park on Wednesday
Palmer also joined by 2010 champ turned broadcaster James Courtney
Formula 1 driver turned TV commentator Jolyon Palmer has relished about his first laps in a Team 18 Chevrolet Supercar.
The Briton, who contested 35 Grands Prix for the Renault F1 team across the 2016 and 2017 seasons, drove Anton De Pasquale’s DEWALT Camaro on Wednesday.
Palmer, 35, took De Pasquale — who won Race 2 in Sydney last month — for a ride.
The laps came in filming for a special piece for F1 TV, which employs Palmer as a commentator and analyst.
2010 Supercars champion turned Team 18 co-driver and Supercars broadcaster James Courtney was also on the scene, also capturing a piece for the Supercars broadcast.
"That was a huge amount of fun. Had a run as a passenger last year and you could feel the grip and the speed, and it was really impressive,” Palmer said in a team video.
"But to actually get behind the wheel is very cool. Trying to slide a little bit, trying to feel the limit of grip, feeling the power the car's got as well.”
Palmer was impressed by the grip and power of the V8 Camaro, adding: "It is night and day different [to an F1 car].
"It's heavy, it's got some grunt, it's got power, but braking distances are all early. The car’s able to ride the kerbs a lot more.
"It's also way more forgiving. I crashed last time I was here in Formula 1, so I was trying to make sure I didn't do the same in the last corner.
“It was honestly so fun to drive.”
The Palmer/Team 18 crossover was the latest F1/Supercars tie-up, after laps for Oscar Piastri in Cam Waters’ Monster Energy Tickford Mustang earlier this week.
Daniel Ricciardo also linked up with Broc Feeney and Triple Eight, through mutual partners Red Bull and Ford, on Wednesday.
Palmer was in good hands, with De Pasquale recently labelled the “No. 1 Chev driver” by Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt.
“It's been super helpful,” Palmer said.“[De Pasquale] is obviously driving at the top of his game now. Learning from him, just to give me some pointers on what to do, in a few laps.
"It was quite helpful, so I wasn't starting from absolutely nothing.”
Supercars action in Melbourne commences on Thursday.
