Photo of the day: a sideways VXR8 for Australia day

Today is Australia day. And we can think of no better way to celebrate than with one of its finest muscle cars - the bonkers, Walkinshaw-tuned HSV GTS - doing what it does best in the hot and barren Outback.

This is a 680bhp version of the car we know as the Vauxhall VXR8, and which our friends down under call the HSV GTS. It is loopy in all the right ways, its searing orange paintwork probably the most sensible thing about it.

It was, then, our number one choice when it came to setting an unofficial speed record on Australia’s derestricted Stuart Highway. The 170mph of an Aston Vantage was our target.

See how we got on here…