A Baptism of METHANOL AND DUST

There is nothing more simple or more difficult in motorsport than driving a sprint car. Having a kerb weight of 620kg and producing more than 800 horsepower allows the car to go from 0–100 in 2.5 seconds and reach top speeds of 240kph — on dirt. There isn’t much that will get the blood pumping more than driving one of these menacing machines. The cars are spartan by design; anything that isn’t needed to go fast is omitted. A huge wing sits atop of the frame, giving both downforce and lateral stability to the cars as they scrabble for grip with staggered rear tyres that force the car left.

Powered by methanol, sprint cars have one gear thanks to direct-drive from the engine to a single reduction gear in the rear allowing both tyres to rotate at the same speed. Inside the cockpit, drivers are strapped in with minimal head movement, no mirrors, next