A North Queensland rookie will line up alongside his idol and V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes at Bathurst 1000 this weekend.
The Bathurst 1000 is often referred to as "The Great Race", with endurance drivers speeding through 1,000 kilometres at the Panorama Racing Circuit in New South Wales.
It will be Lowndes' 29th supercar race at Mt Panorama, but a first for Mackay rising star Declan Fraser.
Fraser said, while he always had faith in himself to make it in the racing game, he never thought he would be taking the tarmac alongside his idol.
From fan to teammate
Fraser had been watching Lowndes since he was just five years old.
"Like every other kid in Australian Motorsports, I always had a poster of his car up on the wall," Fraser said.
Despite being just 22 years old and new to the league, Declan Fraser has had an impressive start in the Dunlop Super2 series.
The young gun is currently leading the series and has secured a wild card entry for the big event — meaning he is now in with a chance to go head-to-head with the best.
Fraser said he owed much of his success to Lowndes.
"He's been so much of a mentor and he's been really instrumental to helping in my Super2 program as well," Fraser said.
"So having someone with so much knowledge about the sport … it's just making me level up in the car."
Fraser admitted his idol had taken a chance on him and was determined not to disappoint.
"It's pretty risky for him going with a rookie, isn't it?" Fraser said.
"I really appreciate the opportunity that the whole team has given me and in the belief they've put in me."
The hard work has just begun
Fraser said he needed "hyper focus" this year to achieve his goals.
"I always had the belief that I'd be able to make it, [but] we're not fully there yet," he said.
"I still have to get my full-time seat in the category."
Fraser said the sport required more than just physical skill and fitness — having mental strength was the make-or-break ingredient.
"You've got to put a lot of belief in yourself, your team, and everyone around you to make sure that you've always got the best opportunity to go out there and perform your best," he said.
In the zone
To get into the zone ahead of a race, the rookie has taken a twist on the classic pump-up track.
"It gets pretty chaotic out there," Fraser said.
Before each race, Fraser opened up a public playlist that his fans could add songs to.
"I just love listening to some absolute bangers out on the track and I just cruise out and do my thing," Fraser said.
"I just sort of have my own time and make sure that I'm fully focused on what I need to do — and music helps me to do that."
The Bathurst 1000 will take place on Sunday.
