V8 Supercar drivers Nick Percat and Garth Tander with Community Newspaper Group journalist Claire Ottaviano.
Camera IconV8 Supercar drivers Nick Percat and Garth Tander with Community Newspaper Group journalist Claire Ottaviano. Credit: Supplied/Emma Reeves

Countdown to the V8

Claire Ottaviano, Joondalup WeekenderWanneroo Times

Moments earlier, I was suited up and strapped tight into the passenger seat beside Percat, with nothing but a stretch of tarmac between me and 235km/h.

The next few minutes saw me grinning from ear to ear as my driver accelerated at exhilaratingly high speed and took stomach-churning tight corners.

After the car came to a stop, and I wobbled out, I spoke with Percat and V8 Supercar Champion Garth Tander who were at Barbagallo Raceway promoting the Perth round of the 2014 V8 Supercar Championships.

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Perth-raised Tander, who now lives in Melbourne, told me he was looking forward to having his wife and two young children cheering him on from the sidelines during the Perth 400 in May.

‘The beauty about coming home is that there’s family here, which means babysitters’