WHEN motor sport champion Marcos Ambrose jumps behind the wheel around Launceston streets, driving his two daughters between home and school is his priority.
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For the doting dad, roaring around the racetrack in the multimillion-dollar industry has finally taken a back seat after two decades in the fast lane.
But Ambrose’s passengers are still keeping an eye on every gear shift.
After spending their entire lives living in America and watching NASCAR racing, Tabitha, 10, and Adelaide, 8, know little more else than fast cars.
‘‘There is a bit of a twinkling in one of their eyes,’’ Ambrose said.
‘‘We’ll give her (Tabitha) a go in go-karts and that, but we’ll keep it very low key.
‘‘Just for confidence and fun.’’
The bloodlines run deep after his father Ross Ambrose’s long involvement in professional motorsport, investing in Ford racing dating back more than 40 years back.
The 39-year-old returned to his home town so that he could expose his daughters to the Australian – and in particular, Tasmanian – way of life.
But some things don’t change about the fast-paced lifestyle in the States transitioning into easy-going Launceston – and Ambrose doesn’t have a hesitation to give his girls a taste to a bit of danger on the track.
‘‘It’s great for kids to be able to drive things for their confidence and competition, but for speed and danger,’’ Ambrose said.
‘‘It toughens them some.’’
Ambrose had sacrificed more than $4 million a year to quit NASCAR and return to V8 Supercars so to ensure the quality of life for his daughters back home.
The two-time V8 Supercars Series title-holder admits he has a ‘‘few other projects on the go’’ that don’t involve motor racing.
‘‘I just decided to step back from driving the car – so everything else is on the table,’’ he said.
‘‘So I’ll look at everything when it comes along.
‘‘I’ve been in racing a long time and it’s going to be nice to see the world differently.’’