Fusion of Grid Girls & Boys   

A state-wide search to find the 2008 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix grid girls and boys will kick off with an open casting session on Thursday, 14 February, to be held at Fusion at Crown between 12 noon – 3pm.

The Sunday Herald Sun will publish the short-listed finalists and readers will be asked to vote for their favourites online. The winners will be awarded the chance to showcase their talent to hundreds of thousands of spectators at this year’s Grand Prix.

In another first for this year’s Grand Prix the lucky grid boys and girls will represent each of the 26 drivers participating in the Celebrity Challenge race. They will also be given the prestigious task of acting as grid markers for the “sporting legends” and as flag-bearers during the singing of the national anthem.

The Celebrity Challenge is shaping up to be the most hotly contested celebrity race in the thirteen year history of the Austrlaian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park with the cream of Australia’s sporting legends battling it out in racing versions of the new Fiat 500.

The line up of Australian sporting heroes hitting the track for the Celebrity Challenge includes AFL superstars, Nathan Buckley, Glenn Archer and Luke Darcy; Australian Rugby Union winger and member of 1999 World Cup winning Wallaby squad, Ben Tune; women’s tennis icon, Nicole Pratt and reigning Women’s Surfing World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore.

The grid girls and boys will be announced at a special Grand Prix party that will kick off a fortnight of Grand Prix fever in Melbourne.

The introduction of grid boys is yet another fresh innovation in a growing list of new features designed to enhance the spectator experience at this year’s GP, ensuring the off-track entertainment offering will be the best in the history of the Albert Park race.

"We know there's a lot of hidden talent in Melbourne's suburbs. If you think you've got what it takes to be a grid girl, or boy, then please come down to our casting session," said Drew Ward, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

The search will be conducted with leading promotional agency, REP.

“To have the chance to work at the Grand Prix is a plum job for anyone trying to get a break in modelling,” said Ben Easton, Director of REP.

Many former grid girls have gone on to forge highly successful careers in modelling and acting. Television personality, Grace McClure, got her big break at the Grand Prix, when she was appointed the face of the race in 2003. Top fashion model Kasia Z also came to the attention of the world’s media as the 2006 Grand Prix face.

Anyone interested in trying out is invited to attend the open casting session at Fusion, Crown Casino on Thursday, 14 February 2007.

The 2008 FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix ● Albert Park ●  13 – 16 March