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The competition gets fierce during the first mock races of the Mazda3 Celebrity Challenge

13th March 2014

Robbie McEwen lived up to the hype as the event's red hot favourite with a first place finish in the first round of racing. Charley Boorman, Nathan Brown and Brett Emerton rounded out the rest of the men's races.

Sam Mac was the first celebrity driver to end up in the gravel spinning his car on turn one, however, the Network Ten personality still managed to continue driving with little more than a bruised ego.

The Mazda3 Celebrity Challenge drivers pushed their new skills, and the All-New Mazda3, to the absolute limits today for the first mock races at Sandown Raceway ahead of the 2014 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix which starts tomorrow.

Under the close tuition of Mark Skaife and his Skaife Racing team, the celebrity drivers put into practice all of the competences they have learnt over the three days of driver training to go head-to-head on the track.

The second mock race for the day was left for the girls to battle out, with winter Olympian Torah Bright finishing in a clear first place just ahead of some surprise competition from Rachael Finch who finished a close second.

A further two mock races combined the boys and the girls with the favourites true to their earlier form. At the conclusion of the four mock races, the group of official race car drivers completed their Observed License Test in order to be evaluated for their Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) license to be presented in a special ceremony at Albert Park tomorrow.

Mark Skaife said the group had applied themselves well and had done a great job during their three days out at Sandown.

"I can honestly say this is one of the top celebrity groups I have worked with." Skaife said.

"They have all worked extremely hard during driver training, and have had fantastic growth and skill development. As always there are a few standouts but I think this group are going to make for some very entertaining racing at Albert Park."

Re-designed from the ground up, the All-New Mazda3 adopts the stylish 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design language and the full suite of efficient SKYACTIV Technologies.

Drivers will be better connected than ever before thanks to a new car connectivity system that allows easier access to phone, email and SMS, as well as Stitcher™, Aha™ and Pandora®.

Including an Active Driving Display, All-New Mazda3 is on sale now and is expected to be a favourite with Australia's new car buyers.