The Gold Coast is almost ready to come alive when the V8 Supercars take to the streets for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 this weekend.

But today the drivers got together off the track for a different kind of adrenalin fix at Dreamworld.

Susannah Treacy reports.

TRANSCRIPT

The hardened V8 Supercar drivers had a soft start to their day.

These 7-month-old Bengal tiger cubs are new arrivals at Dreamworld, cute now, but like the V8s they’ll soon become a hand full.

And for the drivers this is probably their last down time before the big race.

Jamie Whincup, V8 Driver: “I’m hoping this is the most nervous part of the weekend, going in with the big cats pretty intimidating stuff, probably more intimidating than the walls of the Gold Coast 600.”

All 28 drivers and their co-drivers will go head to head in the 600 kilometres endurance race, which has become an iconic even on the international motorsport calendar.

Will Power, V8 Driver: “I think it’s a great event. I don’t think there’s many tracks in the world that has a race on the ocean, they are very popular.”

Kicking off this Friday, 28 international drivers will team up with home grown heroes like Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup and battle it out on one of the world’s toughest tracks.

Clearly not satified with the adrenalin on the track, the drivers jumped at the chance of letting gravity take control of their senses.

But while it’s all fun and games today, they’ll be toughing it out for victory on the weekend.

Jamie Whincup, V8 Driver: “We love the event, we love the international aspect, but it will be dog eat dog.”

Jamie Whincup and Sebastian Bordais will be out this weekend fighting to defend their title.

Susannah Treacy, QUT News.