300kph Club at NATRAX: 12 supercars maxed out

A petrolhead’s life has several key milestones that will always be cherished – passing the driving test, buying the first car, going on the first road trip. These are experiences most of us share. But there’s one milestone that remains elusive for many – hitting 300kph. Even if you have the right car, getting access to a track is difficult. Enter the 300kph Club – perhaps the most exclusive club in the automotive world. And a few lucky enthusiasts were recently invited to join it, courtesy of Autocar India and Castrol EDGE.

300kph Club: India’s temple of speed 

The Panamera GTS leading the convoy for a sighting lap.

The venue, quite naturally, was India’s temple of speed – the NATRAX high-speed test track in Indore. This 11.3km oval has played host to us on numerous occasions in the past, the highlights being the first timed 0-300kph run in the Mercedes-AMG GT R and the mind-boggling 358.03kph we achieved in the Pininfarina Battista. But this time was different. A curated selection of 12 supercars had been hand-picked to enter the 300kph Club – each with a claimed top speed well north of 300kph and a combined power output of over 9,300hp.

Unloading happiness, one inch at a time.

Their arrival at NATRAX was an event in itself. Imagine Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and AMGs being cold-started while being unloaded, their exhaust notes reverberating on the containers’ walls, sending shivers down every spine in earshot. After being carefully unloaded, the cars were inspected by expert technicians, fuelled with 100-octane and tucked away for the night. The next day was the big day.

300kph Club: Cloudy with a chance of speed 

The next morning, Indore woke to grey skies. Overnight showers had left the roads damp, but spirits remained undeterred. NATRAX, however, is built to handle this – arguably the most sophisticated drainage system of any track in India, which means it can dry out within minutes of a downpour. The track was ready. The cars were born ready. But what about their owners?

Drivers were all ears during the safety briefing.

The 300kph figure didn’t gain its legendary status for nothing. Even on the perfectly surfaced high-speed track (HST), it can be a daunting experience. The horizon comes at you fast. Every steering input is magnified. The combined roar of the engine, tyres, and wind is deafening. It’s heart-pounding stuff even for seasoned drivers.

Some were confident, others tentative. But the excitement was universal. To prepare them, Autocar India’s manager of special projects Rahul Kakar, along with editor Hormazd Sorabjee – both high speed record holders too – conducted a detailed briefing on track etiquette; what to expect, how to react and, most importantly, reiterating the fact that their safety takes precedence over everything, even their cars.

300kph Club: Preparing for takeoff

Meanwhile, the pit lane was a hive of activity. Pirelli – our official tyre partner – had technicians checking and correcting tyre pressures for high-speed running and conducting a thorough inspection of every set. Tyres would be under immense strain, and so would the powertrains. With the drivers reunited with their machines, it was time to roll out. A sighting lap behind a pilot car kicked things off – but, of course, you can’t lead a convoy of prancing horses and raging bulls with just any car. That honour went to a Porsche Panamera GTS. Don’t let the four doors fool you – with 500hp on tap, it can breach the 300kph barrier with ease, and all while carrying four people in comfort. Event partner Castrol EDGE raised the bar further by bringing along a hopped-up Nissan GT-R, offering guests a passenger-seat experience of 300kph. With Castrol EDGE running through its veins, this GT-R delivered a massive 700hp and a screaming top speed of 320kph.

The Pirelli crew was on hand to ensure the tyres were safe for speeds over 300kph.
 

300kph Club: Pushing the boundaries

Then, the moment of truth. Cars were dispatched in 30-second intervals, starting with the Lamborghini Revuelto, its V12 shrieking through the morning air. Next was the crisp, almost clinical howl of the Ferrari SF90, followed by the thunderous McLaren 750S and the guttural growl of the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.

Drivers were instructed to enter the banking at a controlled 200 to 220kph, allowing the car to settle into the line and breathe with the road. From there, build speed gradually – exit the banking at over 250kph before charging down the back straight. Slow for the second banking. Rinse and repeat. Just as quickly as they had disappeared from the pits, the cars were back whooshing down the straight in a blur, leaving dropped jaws and wide eyes in their wake.

The Ferrari 296 GTS was the fastest car of the event, clocking a VBOX-verified speed of 338.9kph.

300kph was just the beginning. Many of these machines had speedo-indicated top speeds north of 340kph. But we needed more than speedo readings. Each car was rigged with VBOX GPS devices – the same we use for our road tests – to give us accurate, verified top speeds. Four laps later, the first batch returned to the pits as the next group lined up. This included another Revuelto, a McLaren 750S Spider, a Ferrari F8 Tributo and a Porsche 911 Turbo S. In this company, the 911 might have looked almost restrained, but looks can deceive. It matched its more exuberant peers stride for stride, hitting a true 322.37kph.

Dinesh Thakkar’s AMG GT Black Series – one of just two in India.

The final batch was just as spicy – another McLaren 750S, a Ferrari 296 GTS, a Mercedes-AMG GT S and the Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, arguably the loudest car at the event – louder even than its V12 siblings. The 296 GTS might lack cylinder count in this group, but it more than made up for it with sheer performance, clocking the highest top speed of the day: 338.9kph.

Meet the newest members of the 300kph Club.
 

300kph Club: Welcome to the club

As the action wound down, drivers gathered for a felicitation ceremony, officially welcoming them into the 300kph Club. The customary group photo followed, but the buzz lingered long after the engines fell silent. Conversations turned to top speeds, driving impressions and a bit of light-hearted banter. Rivalries were friendly, the camaraderie genuine. Regardless of what badge sat on the nose of their car, they had all achieved something remarkable together – they were now members of the 300kph Club for life.

300kph Club: Owners' impressions

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series: Dinesh Thakkar

“When we buy the car, we hear that it can max out at 325kph, but actually doing it is incredibly exciting.”

Vinay Singh, fully focused on maxing out his Ferrari SF90.
 

Ferrari SF90: Vinay Singh

“It’s really, really fun! The track is beautifully designed, and the confidence you feel while driving at such high speeds is amazing.”

McLaren 750S Spider: Dr. Sriram Nene

“On most circuits, you’re only going to hit 280 or 290kph on the back straight, but this is like a one-off opportunity to go beyond that.”

In conversation with Manish Jaiswal, Director - NATRAX

How does it feel having an event like this at NATRAX?

This highspeed track was established around four years ago. So far, we’ve mostly had professional companies coming in to conduct performance testing. But from time to time, we’ve hosted events where very specialised drivers were allowed to use the track, like when Autocar India set the Indian top-speed record with the Pininfarina Battista. I think this is the first time we’re opening it up to the general public, allowing them to test their high-end vehicles and experience the track’s performance. We’re certainly looking forward to more such events in the future, so we can continue to open up the track in a very controlled manner.

Has NATRAX received global recognition through past events?

Yes, certainly. I still remember the tagline you coined when the speed record was set – “NATRAX is the Mecca of speed in India.” I think we’ve had a strong relationship with Autocar over the past few years, and this event is another example of that partnership continuing to grow. We definitely look forward to more events like this.

What sort of events are you hoping for in the future?

We’d like to organise more events – not just for conventional vehicles, but also for ADAS-equipped vehicles. We want to explore how those can be tested at NATRAX, and you’re certainly welcome to be a part of that. We also hope to set even higher speed records here. I’m aiming for 400kph-plus; I believe the track is capable of it.

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