Motorsport commentator Lachlan Mansell will swap his microphone for a helmet when he joins the RaceAway Track Time team for the Series X3 NSW (Hyundai Excel Series) 150km endurance event, supporting the Australian Super Truck Championship race meeting at Wakefield Park this weekend.
The Goulburn resident’s voice is familiar at race tracks across the country; his role as the series commentator for the SuperUtes Series – one of the support categories for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship – takes him to some of the biggest events on the calendar including the Adelaide 500, Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000. He is also the live stream host for the Australian Motor Racing Series.
Closer to home, Mansell still commentates many state and national-level races at Wakefield Park. He also calls some events at Goulburn Speedway.
Mansell’s busy schedule means he doesn’t often get the chance to race himself, and he’s looking forward to being back behind the wheel.
“Commentating car racing has always been the thing I’ve loved most of all, and I was never really interested in becoming a driver until one of my friends, Emily Duggan, gave me a test in her Excel a couple of years ago,” Mansell said.
“I found that the experience of driving a race car enhanced my knowledge of the sport and allowed me to offer more insightful comments behind the microphone, so I’ve made it a goal to compete in at least one event per year since then.
“In 2016 I competed in the 24 Hours of Lemons endurance event for cars up to $1,000, and last year I did a Pulsar Series race at Wakefield. I’m looking forward to doing the Excel enduro – I like the strategic and team-work aspects of the long-distance races, and the Excel Series is a very affordable category where the cars are closely matched.”
Mansell’s co-driver will be reigning NSW Formula Ford Champion Lachlan Gibbons, a competitor who also has a wealth of experience in production car racing.
“I wanted Lachlan as my co-driver because he’s very good with driver coaching and feedback,” Mansell said.
“For someone with my relative lack of experience, it’s important for me to have someone to learn from – the only problem is it’s a bit confusing having two Lachlans in the team!”
Mansell also paid credit to the RaceAway Track Time operation, owned by veteran Phil Alexander.
“Phil has raced all over the world, and now he’s made a business out of giving people the opportunity for people to experience the thrill of motorsport,” Mansell said.
“For someone like myself who doesn’t have the time, infrastructure or mechanical expertise to own and prepare my own race car, it’s perfect. All I have to do is rock up at the track with my race suit and helmet, and enjoy the weekend.”
