Drag races screech to a halt as petrolhead proposes to his girlracer at Killarney

Ten years ago teenagers Jarryd Habel and Christine da Silva met at an event at Killarney International Raceway and bonded over a shared love of fast cars and straight-line racing.

They've been together - and regulars at Killarney - ever since, so when Jarryd decided recently the time had come to pop the big question, there was only one place to do it – on the startline of the drag strip, on a Wednesday night at Robot Racing.

So, with the enthusiastic help of race controller Gaenor Maytham and track marshals, plans were made and earlier in August, Jarryd challenged Christine to race her Honda Civic against his Ballade at Robot Racing.

                                              Image: Killarney International Raceway / Dave Abrahams

As the pair pulled up to the startline, Maytham asked Christine to get out of her car on the pretext of checking her driving licence. While this was going on Jarryd jumped out of his car and, as soon as Christine had taken off her helmet, went down on one knee and produced the traditional little blue velvet box.

The crowd went wild, Christine choked up and very nearly burst into tears – she just threw her arms around him and held on tight for a few moments. Then, after she regained enough composure for Jarryd to slip the ring on her finger, her first words were "Can we race now?".

                                                   Image: Killarney International Raceway / Dave Abrahams

So they did, roaring down the strip and crossing the line side by side – although the ever-vigilant spotters adjudged Jarryd the winner "by a bumper". He'll tell you he won a lot more than that on Wednesday night.

Killarney International Raceway wishes Jarryd and Christine all the best as they race through life, side by side.