WHEN Mick Doohan got his chance to steer a Mercedes AMG GT S around Mount Panorama five years ago, the Moto GP star proved his motor sport talent extended beyond two wheels.
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But does that talent also extend to simulator racing at the iconic Bathurst circuit?
Come Monday night that question will be answered when Doohan takes part in the Supercars' celebrity Eseries race at the Mount.
Doohan is one of the 28 celebrities who will take on the virtual test and while he says his "expectations are very low" given his limited simulator experience, he does have firsthand track knowledge.
Before Doohan went on to become the five-time Moto GP World Champion, he won the final Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to be held in the TT format at Mount Panorama in 1988.
Then he got his chance to tackle the 6.213 kilometre circuit at speed on four wheels during a Mercedes track day in 2015.
Doohan averaged close to 150km/hr on his best lap, a handy two minutes, 30 seconds effort.
"I've raced at Bathurst a couple of times. I raced there with Yamaha in '88 and in '87 on a production bike - I think I finished second in that race. I've also done a few Mercedes Benz corporate days at the mountain after the Bathurst 12 Hour, so I know the circuit, but the circuit is one thing and the computer is another," he said.
"I've had a quick glance at the whole grid, and it looks like there's some younger guys there that may have a bit more sim and computer game experience than I will ever have, but at the end of the day it's a bit of a laugh."
Doohan's virtual entry will carry livery which is identical to that of the 2020 Red Bull Holden Commodore which runs in the Supercars series.
Another two-wheel star who will tackle the celebrity race in a Commdore is two-time Dakar Rally winner Tony Price.
"I'm stoked to be a part of Monday night's Supercars celebrity Eseries. I think my Red Bull Supercar looks mega, and hopefully it's fast too," Price said.
"Sim racing is a completely different ball game compared to what I'm used to, but I'm keen to give it a crack and have a bit of fun along the way.
"I don't own a sim and have had to call on a few mates to help me out, but hopefully I can get a few good results under my belt and stay away from all the carnage you see in the All Stars Eseries."
