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V8 drivers face the heat of the kitchen with Mater patients

Brad Jones Racing V8 Supercar drivers Jason Bright, Tim Slade and Tim Blanchard swapped the speed of the race track for the heat of the kitchen yesterday, when they took part in the Summit V8 Mater Food Challenge.

They put their culinary skills to the test before they take to the track for practice today to compete in The Coates Hire SuperSprint at Ipswich Motorway this weekend.

Sponsored by Summit Fleet Leasing and Management, the race car drivers cooked against each other with a young fan—patients from Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane. Each team drew for the opportunity to create a healthy ‘V8’ dish across three cooking stations, guided by Mater’s Executive Chef and a dietitian.

In true cooking show style, a team of judges, including patients and Summit Fleet representatives, rated the meals to determine the winning team.

Summit Fleet Leasing and Management have supported Mater over a number of years, providing vehicles for volunteer services and providing more than $70, 000 in financial support.

Mater Foundation Chief Executive Officer Nigel Harris said Summit Fleet Leasing and Management had been a longstanding supporter of Mater and had kindly arranged V8 drivers to visit our patients—some who are racing enthusiasts.

“A cooking event of this kind is the first for Mater and while the drivers are used to competing under pressure, the kitchen was certainly a different environment for them.

“Patients at the Centre often have chronic conditions which mean they can spend weeks and months in hospital.

“It means a great deal to the patients to have these elite race car drivers visit them, providing a much-needed distraction while they undergo treatment at Mater,” he said.

Open in 2015, Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane is the first of its kind in Australia, providing quality care for adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 25 living with chronic and complex healthcare conditions, as well as addressing their emotion, social and education needs.

Jason Bright said their visit to Mater was always a special day in their calendar.

“Last year we met a great group of patients in the Mater Young Adult Health Centre and had some fun playing car racing games with them on the PlayStation. This year, the food challenge was very exciting. My skills are definitely on the race track, but it was a lot of fun! We enjoy meeting the young adult patients at Mater. They are always up for a chat and it doesn’t just brighten their day, but ours too,” he said.