GEORGIA MCSWEENEY
Drag racers across Australia have posted tributes on social media
An eight-year-old girl has died after crashing her junior drag racing car on a track in Western Australia.
Anita Board was on a solo "test run" when her vehicle hit a concrete barrier at the Perth Motorplex, police said.
The girl had been attempting to gain her license for junior dragster racing, the Australian National Drag Racing Association (Andra) said.
She had just turned eight - the minimum age required to race under official rules - and was driving a 210cc dragster, local media reported.
The girl's father , Ian Board, posted a message online saying "my heart [is] in a million pieces".
"he will need ... the love and support in the weeks weeks ahead," he wrote in local community forum.
Members of the drag racing community have posted online tributes, including under the hashtag #HelmetsOutForAnita.
Andra said in a statement: "Anita was undergoing licensed pass at the Perth Motorplex, as part of the process for her to receive her racing license, when this tragic accident happened.
" Junior racers must adhere to stringent safety rules and regulations regarding safety equipment, and their dragsters must meet specific safety requirements. (19459012)
Mike Sprlyan, of Junior Dragster Australia, told news outlet Perth Now that beginners aged between eight and 17 reached top speeds of about 40-50km / h (25-30mph).
Police said they would prepare a report for a coroner.
