A women and juniors driver development day on April 7 in Barnawartha follows on from last year’s inaugural event attended by 25 women aged from their teens to their 60s. 

Organised by Albury, Wodonga and Districts Car Club, the 2018 version also includes junior drivers (boys and girls 14 to 21 years).

Club secretary Annabel Ranford, co-organiser with Leigh Rizzato, said the day was not a learn to drive session but aimed to increase awareness of a car’s limits.

“Perhaps people who are less experienced, giving them the skills to feel more confident with what their car can and can’t do,” she said.

“Understanding the dynamics and the physics of a car and what happens when it’s under particular stresses and strains.”

A brake test at the start of the schedule plays an important role in that while other aspects include taking a corner smoothly and comprehending race track lines.

“We’re hoping that through days like this we get more participation of women and junior competitors in our club,” Ms Ranford said.

“But what we also see is that developing these sorts of skills translates into the real world to create safer drivers where they’re able to respond to emergencies and understand the capabilities of their cars under extreme circumstances.

“Feedback that people around the world have had from doing driver sessions like this is that they don’t realise the skills that they’ve learned until they’re put in an emergency situation.”

Confederation of Australian Motor Sport chief executive Eugene Arocca said the grassroots program offered a friendly environment where people could participate safely in their own road cars.

“Drive days such as this are accessible to anyone, and it’s why we’ve seen plenty of interest in it,” he said.

“You don’t necessarily need thousands of dollars or a major sponsorship to enjoy motor sport.”

Wodonga TAFE has donated the use of its Logic campus track on Albertson Road while Australian Auto-Sport Alliance is also supporting the day, which will raise $1100 for Albury-Wodonga’s headspace.

Ms Ranford said drivers would be able to bring a passenger, such as a partner or parent.

“We’re also calling on our pool of more experienced members in the club to be passengers on the day and they might impart some wisdom or at least make people feel more comfortable on the track,” she said.