This weekend, thousands will flock to Bathurst to cheer on their favourite drivers at the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars Championship.
And among them will be a number of supportive wives and girlfriends proudly (and nervously) cheering on their superstar driver beaus.
Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the incredible women who have won the hearts of some of the world’s most successful drivers and their lives off the esteemed track.
This weekend, thousands will flock to Bathurst to cheer on their favourite drivers at the V8 Supercars Championship (pictured are Becky Lamb and Fabian Coulthard)
BECKY LAMB, PARTNER OF FABIAN COULTHARD
Becky Lamb met her partner Fabian Coulthard six years ago while working as a grid girl – the stunning brunette formerly holding the title of Miss Indy.
The former professional dancer and BMX rider has had a successful career as a model, with the Newcastle local winning a string of competitions including Miss Bikini World, Miss Swimsuit Australia and placing First Runner-Up in the Ralph Australian Swimwear Model of the Year.
The TV presenter has also graced the cover of numerous magazines, modelled for high profile brands and is a fire fighter with Fire and Rescue New South Wales.
Becky also blogs about her life and recently, has written candid posts about her pregnancy and the twins – a boy and a girl – she and Fabian are expecting in late October.
Becky Lamb met her partner Fabian Coulthard six years ago while working as a grid girl – the stunning brunette formerly holding the title of Miss Indy
The TV presenter has also graced the cover of numerous magazines, modelled for high profile brands and is a fire fighter with Fire and Rescue New South Wales
At 29, Becky was diagnosed with both endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome and was concerned she would never be able to conceive naturally so the pair were elated when they found out they were.
‘I’ve been lucky enough to win races in Supercars and I thought those were great days,’ Fabian told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘But then finding out about the twins – that was literally the best day.’
If the due date is correct, the babies should arrive in the week break between the Gold Coast 600 and his trip to New Zealand so he will be able to spend a week with his wife and new bubs before jetting off again.
Becky also blogs about her life and recently, has written candid posts about her pregnancy and the twins – a boy and a girl – she and Fabian are expecting in late October
At 29, Becky was diagnosed with both endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome and was concerned she would never be able to conceive naturally so the pair were elated when they found out they were
RENEE WINTERBOTTOM, WIFE OF MARK WINTERBOTTOM
Not only is Renee Winterbottom the wife of Mark Winterbottom and the mother to their children, she is also his manager.
The pair met in their teens at a go-kart event and since day one, have been by each other’s sides working as the ultimate team through ups and downs.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph in 2015, Mark said his wife spends her time trackside ‘meeting sponsors, striking business deals and running tours’ as well as looking after their two young sons.
‘Renee is the one dealing with sponsors, organising all the accounts and still managing to take care of our boys,’ he said.
‘She’s incredible. Some days at the track I’ll be flat out trying to locate her.’
Not only his Renee Winterbottom the wife of Mark Winterbottom and the mother to their children, she is also his manager
The pair met in their teens at a go-kart event and since day one, have been by each other’s sides working as the ultimate team through ups and downs
LEANNE TANDER, WIFE OF GARTH TANDER
As a race car driver herself, Leanne Tander knows everything there is to know about life in the fast lane.
The 37-year-old, who shares two children with her beau, started racing when she was just 14 and in 2000, became the first woman to ever win a round of the Formula Ford championship.
In 2016, she made history again when she became the first woman to win an Australian national circuit racing title when she took out the Formula Ford series at Phillip Island.
Speaking to the Yarra Valley Leader previously, Leanne said the pair work together to balance parenthood and their careers.
As a race car driver herself, Leanne Tander knows everything there is to know about life in the fast lane
The 37-year-old, who shares two children with her beau, started racing when she was just 14 and in 2000, became the first woman to ever win a round of the Formula Ford championship
‘I’m lucky in that we’ve got a very supportive family on both sides. I can’t leave the kids at home or let them sit in the garage while I race so our parents help out,’ Leanne said.
‘After both of the kids I was back behind the wheel quickly: after Scarlett was born my first race back was only about five months and after Sebastian I was back within 10 weeks.’
Leanne will also be competing at Bathurst this weekend, this time alongside David Brabham for Round 4 of the Toyota 86 Racing Series.
In 2016, she made history again when she became the first woman to win an Australian national circuit racing title when she took out the Formula Ford series at Phillip Island
TAHAN LEW-FATT, GIRLFRIEND OF DAVID REYNOLDS
Tahan Lew-Fatt met David Reynolds in 2012 when she was a Bollé grid girl at one of his races.
Speaking of his first meeting with the former Big Brother star, David said previously that ‘she did the odd round and we happened to talk a little bit, and then she came over to my house one day and she never left.’
‘She actually hated it [racing] to start with. She thought it was really silly and didn’t understand it. She’s around it a lot now, and is kind of understanding it and liking it,’ he told Five Minutes with Foges in 2015.
But despite their strong relationship, Tahan said earlier this year that a wedding was never going to be on the table.
Tahan Lew-Fatt met David Reynolds in 2012 when she was a Bollé grid girl at one of his races
Speaking of his first meeting with the former Big Brother star, David said previously that ‘she did the odd round and we happened to talk a little bit, and then she came over to my house one day and she never left’
‘We don’t believe in it, like the whole marriage thing. If we have kids we will sign the piece of paper but no wedding,’ she told The Daily Telegraph.
‘He’s definitely a keeper, he does cook dinner every night pretty much and does cook me breakfast every morning but we talked about it and we kind of don’t want to get married.’
Tahan famously defended David earlier this year after he was fined $25,000 for referring to the all-female Bathurst 1000 team in 2016 as a ‘p*ssy wagon’.
‘The girls were actually calling it that themselves so it was sort of like an inside joke. I guess there’s a time and place to say things,’ she said.
But despite their strong relationship, Tahan said earlier this year that a wedding was never going to be on the table
‘He’s definitely a keeper, he does cook dinner every night pretty much and does cook me breakfast every morning but we talked about it and we kind of don’t want to get married,’ she said
RIANA CREHAN, FIANCEE OF WILL DAVISON
Riana Crehan, a former Miss V8 Supercars, met Will Davison in 2006 at a racing function in New Zealand.
The former dancer and registered nurse is a regular on the track as a motorsport reporter and as a V8 Supercar reporter, spends time in the pit interviewing drivers, mechanics and engineers and commentating on the race.
‘There’s certainly been times when Will’s been involved in incidences and I’ve had to interview him straight away which is always difficult,’ she has said previously.
The pair are used to mixing their work and home lives, with Will saying it’s great to have his wife-to-be right there at his races.
Riana Crehan, a former Miss V8 Supercars, met Will Davison in 2006 at a racing function in New Zealand
The former dancer and registered nurse is a regular on the track as a motorsport reporter and as a V8 Supercar reporter, spends time in the pit interviewing drivers, mechanics and engineers and commentating on the race
‘We’re at work and then as we get home it all changes so it’s all very professional but yeah that’s the ultimate for us to be honest, that race and that moment,’ Will told the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2016.
She has also co-hosted the Top Gear Festival in Australia and hosted the successful Fitbit roll-out events nation-wide.
The career-driven presenter has also previously expressed her dislike at the the term ‘WAG’, saying it’s ‘stereotypical’.
‘I think that sometimes it is fairly stereotypical like you’re just a girl that holds a hand bag and stands there cheering on their partner,’ she told Perth Now.
‘And I think there’s a lot more to the girls than just that.’
‘There’s certainly been times when Will’s been involved in incidences and I’ve had to interview him straight away which is always difficult,’ she has said previously
She has also co-hosted the Top Gear Festival in Australia and hosted the successful Fitbit roll-out events nation-wide
DANI BYRNES, PARTNER OF TIM SLADE
Fitness and lifestyle model, Danielle Byrnes, met Tim Slade while working as a grid girl – something she started doing at Bathurst when she was 17 – and has been with him for seven years.
The stunning blonde presented the driver with a trophy at a gala event and later (after numerous advances from Tim), the two of them became a couple.
Dani has worked as both a model and ambassador over the years and is based on the Gold Coast where she works full time in the industry specialising in lifestyle, swimwear, fitness and corporate photo shoots.
Fitness and lifestyle model, Danielle Byrnes, met Tim Slade while working as a grid girl – something she started doing at Bathurst when she was 17 – and has been with him for seven years
The stunning blonde presented the driver with a trophy at a gala event and later (after numerous advances from Tim), the two of them became a couple
Dani told The Advertiser previously that she tends to go to between six and nine of the 14 race meets each year and enjoys accompanying Tim.
‘I’m a bit of a traveller, so I like to try different restaurants in town,’ she said, adding that it’s not always smooth sailing.
‘Athletes are a different make-up. You don’t know how to support them. It took me a long time to learn how to deal with Tim,’ she said.
Dani has worked as both a model and ambassador over the years and is based on the Gold Coast where she works full time in the industry specialising in lifestyle, swimwear, fitness and corporate photos shoots
‘I’m a bit of a traveller, so I like to try different restaurants in town,’ she said, adding that it’s not always smooth sailing
CARYS COURTNEY, WIFE OF JAMES COURTNEY
Carys Courtney met James Courtney more than 14 years ago when she was 20 – the then test driver inviting her to the Australian F1 Grand Prix shortly after meeting in their home town of Penrith.
The couple now share two young children together – something James said changed his perspective on racing.
‘I’m a lot different person than I was six years ago before I had Zara. Your whole perspective on life changes. Before, I lived for my racing, now I live for my kids and family and the racing is how I provide for them,’ he told the Daily Telegraph previously.
Carys Courtney met James Courtney more than 14 years ago when she was 20 – the then test driver inviting her to the Australian F1 Grand Prix shortly after meeting in their home town of Penrith
The couple now share two young children together – something James said changed his perspective on racing
Carys, who prefers the term WIMS (Women In Motorsport) over WAG, said living with a racing car driver is an ’emotional rollercoaster’.
‘I’m not a sportsperson so I had to learn how these people function. I read a lot of psychology books because I wanted to understand it – what drives them,’ she told The Advertiser.
And the most testing times?
‘You can have empathy, but I haven’t raced a car. I don’t know what’s going through his head. The downside is there’s only one winner. They have to deal with that mentally every week. And we’ve seen it, when the guys are at a low, it can creep further and further,’ she said.