Asian Motor Sports

Former world champion Formula One driver Alan Jones is well known for his driving skills.

However, his passenger skills were put to the test on Saturday morning at the Nikon Indy 300 when his son Christian Jones invited him along for a hot lap with his Porsche Carrera Cup team.

And it took some effort to get the former world champion into the passenger seat.

Christian, who normally competes in the Asian Carrera Cup Championship, had to work on Alan for a number of days before the Gold Coast-based former driver agreed.

It would have been a hoot for Jones to have been driven by his 30-year-old son who is leading the Asian drivers championship.

Each Carrera Cup team did four hot laps on Saturday while the WPS V8 Supercar also did a number of passenger laps.

Gold Coast City councillor Dawn Crichlow was one of the lucky few to get a lap as did Queensland Minister for Police Judy Spence.

Gold Coast Bulletin business reporter Shannon Willoughby also braved a hot lap in a Carrera Cup car with Juniper managing director Shaun Juniper.

Juniper is building the Soul high-rise at Surfers Paradise.

It was a nervous wait for Willoughby after Juniper crashed his Porsche during qualifying on Thursday, however, he managed to arrange his second car to get to Indy in time for racing on Saturday and Sundy.

Gold Coast-based driver Craig Baird, who has already won the Australian Carrera Cup drivers championship this year, also put in a few hot laps in preparation for the last two races of the season.

The session was overseen by QMedia boss and former Sale of the Century host, Glenn Ridge. QMedia is the company that runs the Carrera Cup.