GC600 drivers ready to tear it up around the Surfers Paradise track that is one of Australia’s most feared

V8 Supercar drivers are counting the days until they will wrestle their V8 beast around the concrete maze of one of the country’s most feared tracks.

V8 Superfest Drivers Parade through Surfers Paradise. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

V8 driver Todd Kelly enjoyed the casual “stroll” through the streets of Surfers Paradise as part of the GC600 parade yesterday.

In four days’ time he knows that welcoming ambience will change completely when his hair is blown back trying to wrestle his V8 beast around the concrete maze of one of the most feared tracks.

The Gold Coast circuit is renowned for its aggressive kerbs and that’s why Kelly loves it.

After escaping serious carnage at Bathurst last weekend, the Nissan Motorsport co-owner and driver said he could only hope to be so lucky this weekend.

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V8 Superfest Drivers Parade through Surfers Paradise. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“I love the Gold Coast ­because the track is really challenging and it has the most aggressive kerbs we race on,” he said.

“Our cars are probably in the air more than they are on the road because we get so much airtime flying through the chicanes.”

Kelly said he had been thankful heading out of Bathurst with all four cars in good condition and was looking forward to hitting the track this weekend.

“We were really lucky out at Bathurst because all four of our cars are coming back without any major damage.”

V8 Superfest Drivers Parade through Surfers Paradise. Margaret Brabham, wife of the late Sir Jack Brabham, in the lead car of the parade. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

Also eager to test the GC600 track was Steve Johnson, the Gold Coast-based race car-driving son of V8 legend Dick Johnson.

“I look forward to the GC600 all year because the type of racing we can bring to the Gold Coast is second-to-none and there is always carnage which people love to see,” he said.

Johnson was among more than 30 drivers who took part in yesterday’s V8 Supercars Drivers Parade in front of more than 10,000 people through the streets of Surfers Paradise and he said the day helped build the excitement.

V8 Superfest Drivers Parade through Surfers Paradise. Steven Johnson with his son Jett Johnson. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

V8 Supercars off-track event manager Shane Porter said it was one of many events aimed at enticing more people into the racing precinct.

“It is about getting people excited for not just the race but the party atmosphere that surrounds it,” he said.

And it seems bringing back some of the old Indy classics is also working to encourage crowds.

“We are getting very positive feedback about adding the drags on the Friday night and bringing back the air shows because they are events which became iconic,’’ he said.