Female drag race driver escapes car explosion in Perth

Female drag racer Christine Steffans was trapped in a 400km/h fireball when her car's engine exploded at the Perth motorplex on Saturday night.

Footage shows bright flashes of flames engulfing the nitro funny car, trailed by a shower of sparks, as it struck a safety barrier, deployed its drag parachute and eventually came to a stop.

Steffans told ABC News that as she approached the finish line the engine exploded with sufficient force it blew out the windscreen.

Fire and rescue crews were at the scene within seconds and Steffans managed to climb through a roof escape and walk away without injury.

Nitro funny cars are fuelled by nitromethane and methanol and can accelerate from 0km/h to 500km/h in under five seconds.

Steffans reportedly is the only female nitro funny car driver in Australia.