No matter if you’re a race fan or not, you can’t deny how much of a blast driving an official pace car for such events would be. Not only would you have full control of the field, you’d also get to drive where few people have, not to mention being able to drive pedal to the metal without repercussions. But as we found out from this video shared by Camaro5, pace car driving isn’t all just fun and games. Ride along with professional World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Camaro safety car driver Bruno Correia in the video above to see what we mean.

Pacing the field safely at any kind of race takes skill and awareness, and no one knows that better than officials with the WTCC. Before 2009, there were no official pace car drivers appointed for the series, but that changed when a local police officer driving an official safety car came out on the track in a bad spot, colliding with the lead driver at a French race (footage of which can be seen in the video above). After that, the series started appointing official drivers that had a bit more know-how on the race course.

Portugal’s Bruno Correia was the first official pace car driver appointed to the series and has now paced over 350 WTCC races. Behind the wheel of the fifth-generation Camaro pace car for the 2012 season, he plays somewhat of a referee on the race course, intervening in such instances as track accidents and adverse weather.

In order to do the job properly, pace car drivers have to have an adequate car and that’s why the Camaro was chosen for the 2012 WTCC pace vehicle. Not only does the 6.2L V8 make it possible to pace the field according to the competitor’s speed needs, it also allows Correia to get out of anyone’s way in a hurry if need be.

Being an official pace car driver looks like fun, but after watching this video, it also looks like it could be challenging at times, so it’s probably a good thing that the WTCC now leaves the job strictly to the professionals.