He finished third in last year's Bathurst 1000 and is hungry for his first win.Ĭourtney had a strong start to the year, qualifying fastest for the opening round of the V8 Supercar series, but hasn't yet scored a race win. He has a string of racing championships to his credit and was a Formula One test driver before he joined V8 Supercars two years ago. "This is the toughest thing I've done in my life, for sure," said Courtney, 27, who has been racing since he was seven. He admits it's the most unusual preparation he's had for a motor race. I think that's why he's good with dancing, because he knows where his feet are," she said.Ĭourtney has been practising for two hours each night in a tiny dance hall behind St Barnard's Anglican Church in suburban Bathurst. "They say that when you race, you feel like a part of the car.
"He is also quite fit from racing so it's been quite easy working with him."īourtasova believes Courtney's skill behind the wheel is part of the reason he is fast on his feet. "Usually people have talent but they're lazy, or they have motivation but no talent - but James is talented and driven," she said. The Russian-born Bourtasova, who was the Siberian Dancesport champion in 19, said she had taught "hundreds" of people since she was 13, and Courtney was one of the best.
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While other drivers have been relaxing at the end of each day's testing, Courtney has been practising his moves for next week's episode of Channel Seven's Dancing With the Stars.ĭriving a car at 300km/h was a cinch compared to learning the salsa, said Courtney, but his instructor for the dance contest, Olya Bourtasova, said he had natural talent. He's trying to win Australia's biggest motor race, the Bathurst 1000, and he's trying to learn the salsa. V8 Supercar driver James Courtney has two mountains to climb this weekend.
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