Rain forecast for Surfers race

Wet weather and inexperienced drivers are set to create havoc at the Gold Coast 600. The forecast rain will make life hell for the international drivers who are learning to race V8 Supercars on one of the world's most feared street circuits.

"It's going to be messy if it's raining," said former Formula 1 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve.

Villeneuve and the other 17 internationals survived a wet practice session at Willowbank yesterday as they had their first and only taste of the cars before the race. For many, like Sebastien Bourdais, the only driver to win the Gold Coast Indy more than once, it was their first time in a V8 Supercar. The four-time Champ Car champion said he was nervous before taking to the track.

"When you don't know what you're doing and you have no idea what the car should feel like and you don't know what the limits are and it's wet, it's very easy to lose it," he said. "It's not the best conditions to learn the car but it seems like it's going to be pretty close to what we get in Surfers."