TONY’S SETTING A NEW COURSE
Fresh from winning the prestigious Silverstone Classic motorsport race in England, Tony Longhurst is turning his attention to races on the water
FORMER-BATHURST champion turned boating nut Tony Longhurst hopes to carry winning motorsport form on to the water.
The Boat Works marina owner, who won Australia’s holy grail of V8 motorsport at Bathurst in 1988 and 2001, made a successful return to the sport in the UK last week.
He won the prestigious Silverstone Classic against 30 other competitors in a race celebrating the Super Car touring era.
Mr Longhurst won the event at Northhamptonshire in the same BMW 318i which guided him to the 1994 Australian Manufacturers Championship.
Not one to rest on his laurels, he is now heading to the Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island race weeks to compete on the water.
Mr Longhurst has his sights aimed high – as per usual – for his recently purchased Extreme 40 catamaran which is used as an America’s Cup training boat.
Asked where he hoped to place, Mr Longhurst laughed and said: “Well, line honours ... first basically.”
“She looks sensational from either side and when the wind is up, you literally glide above the water surface. It is surreal and addictive.”
The 27th Airlie Beach Race Week, which has attracted more than 100 boats this year, is hosted by the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
It runs until next Thursday and is followed by the Hamilton Island Race Week.
Mr Longhurst is just as enthused about racing his foiling catamaran as he is about racing cars.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people and the closest you will come to flying.”