Shaken and stirred on Pagani's wild ride

Hot laps in a 900hp Huayra R Evo Roadster are a gut-churning experience

- Christopher Tan

OYAMA, Japan - It is 5 deg C at the Fuji Speedway, a race circuit near the foot of Mount Fuji, but I feel sweaty. I am in a 4kg race suit, complete with fire-retardant underwear, thick socks that come up to my calves, racing shoes, gloves and a heavily-padded helmet over a balaclava.

Strapped tightly by a six-point harness to the passenger seat bolted to a deep tub in a Pagani Huayra R Evo Roadster, I imagine this is how someone in a straitjacket feels all dressed up with nowhere to go. I must be a little insane to have signed up for this. At 66, is my body really up for life in the ultra-fast lane?

Time to find out. Pagani R&D driver Andrea Palma fires up the 900hp track car, which awakens with a seismic roar. The gearbox engages with the thud of a sledgehammer finding its mark. And the car rolls out the garage with the subtlety of an overly flatulent rhino.

Scarcely out of the pit, Mr Palma plants his foot and the featherlight Pagani hurtles towards the first corner. The speedometer climbs towards 200kmh when he slams on the brakes.

My view changes from windscreen to dashboard to window as the first of several ragdoll movements are thrust upon me. At times, my chest feels like a sumo wrestler is kneading dough on it.