Searing conditions on the Gold Coast this weekend to turn V8s into driver saunas

V8 drivers will have to conquer the Coast’s hottest October in seven years to carry away the Gold Coast 600 Supercars trophy.

Jamie Whincup of Red Bull Racing Australia wins race 1 of the the Sydney NRMA Motoring and Services 500, event 14 of the 2013 Australian V8 Supercars Championship Series at the , , , December 07, 2013.

V8 SUPERCAR drivers will swelter under the pressure to grab pole position this weekend and they will have to sweat it out in the Coast’s hottest October in seven years to do so.

Temperatures are expected to make 29C at the weekend and peak at 31C an Tuesday, causing the highest average maximum October temperatures since 2007.

But the V8 cabins reach 20-25C more than the ambient temperature and drivers will be manoeuvring their way around the track in up to 54C.

V8 Supercar Championship leader Jamie Whincup said the sport was one of the most physically demanding, especially with the temperatures inside the car.

“The general rule is that you plus on 25C on top of the ambient so we are looking at about 55C which is bloody hot,” he said.

“We have driving aids so a T-shirt that has cold water running through it and cold air in our helmets.

“But it is on fire in there and a lot of shoes will be melting.”

V8 Supercars championship leader Jamie Whincup says the temperature in the cars could reach more than 50C this weekend as the Gold Coast swelters through one of its hottest Octobers in years.

The unusually dry and hot conditions for this time of year are a result of northerly winds bringing hot conditions from upper Queensland according to Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutshke.

“We are going to see it warm up and increase in humidity and each day will be warmer than the day before,” he said.

“It is an unusual run of warmer weather and for inland parts of the Gold Coast it will be the warmest October spell in seven years when the average maximum was 29C. This weekend it will be an average of 28C.

“Today it will be 27C and 29C by Sunday and 31C on Tuesday.”

Mr Dutshke said the hot temperatures could be dampened with some possible showers.

“Saturday afternoon is the best chance for a shower or thunderstorm,” he said.

V8 Supercars General Manager of Communication Cole Hitchcock said the hot weather could mean extra bums in grandstands and would bring an increase in water and drinks sales from both spectators and drivers.

“Naturally the system with warmer weather is that people buy more drinks and bring more with them so we are expecting that,” he said.

Race fans should take cover from the sun, while being prepared for possible showers or a storm on Saturday afternoon.

“The key is fine weather really and if it is good weather people will wake up in the morning and think, ‘well, it looks nice outside’ and they will either go to the V8s or the beach.

“The drivers will drink about 5L of water and after it they will jump straight into an ice bath ... because they are inside for little over two hours so they are trained for that.”

Event spectators are encouraged to remain hydrated and stay appropriately protected from the sun throughout the weekend.