Drag racer, 8, too fast before fatal crash at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana: inquest

An inquest has found little Anita Board, 8, who was tragically killed after she crashed her 210cc dragster into a wall in Perth did not brake hard enough.

Eight-year-old Anita Board next to her junior dragster racing car. Picture: AFP/Mike Sprlyan/Junior Dragster Australia

An eight-year-old girl who died after crashing into a barrier while trying to get her drag racing licence in Perth didn’t brake hard enough at the end of the track and had been waved towards the exit gate by an official, an inquest has heard.

Funeral of Anita Board at the Pit Area of the Perth Motorplex, Kwinana. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Anita Board suffered severe head and neck injuries in the crash at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana on November 11, 2017, just days after she had reached the minimum age to compete.

Anita's father Ian (purple shirt) and her sister Zara speak at the funeral. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Police investigator John Turner told the Coroner’s Court of WA on Monday that Anita’s father Ian Board panicked when he noticed she hadn’t slowed down enough to exit the track and hoped she’d go straight ahead as she’d been taught, but an official waved at her to slow down and go through the gate.

Originally published as Drag racer, 8, too fast before fatal crash at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana: inquest