Barry Blue

Stone Brothers Racing driver James Courtney has swapped his race boots for dancing shoes as he prepares to compete with nine other celebrities and sports stars on Channel Seven’s Dancing with the Stars. Courtney, who drives the JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, has been in intensive training for the past week with his dance partner Olya Bourtasova. The JELD-WEN driver has only a short time to polish up his moves before his first performance on the top rating show, fitting his dance training around his racing commitments with the next V8 Supercar round, the Sandown 500, on 14-16 September. Courtney’s crew say that he is one of the more relaxed drivers around pit lane, likely to be joking around only seconds before stepping into his race car. But the 27-year old admits that there were plenty of nerves on his first day of dance training. “Normally I’m not nervous at all before a race or in front of cameras because it’s what I do,” says the Gold-Coast based Courtney. “But my first day of training I was a fish out of water. This is totally different for me and the thought of dancing in front of even a couple of people was terrifying. “Slowly I am relaxing into it and gaining confidence. The Cha Cha is a fun dance and kind of suits my personality. I’m having a bit of trouble with the Tango though; it’s all very serious and I feel so uncoordinated. Trying to put on a serious face when I look that silly is pretty hard.” V8 Supercar drivers work hard on their fitness and Courtney is no exception. The JELD-WEN Motorsport driver runs and rides many kilometers each week to maintain the stamina needed to handle a 1350kg car at speeds of up to 300km/h with cabin temperatures often reaching up to 60 degrees celcius. He says the fitness required for ballroom dancing is completely different from his usual regime. “I have pains in muscles that I didn’t realize I had. For once in my life I am getting a calf muscle which I think is fantastic. I get teased about my skinny legs so anything that gives me some shape I’m up for! Typical of Courtney’s perfectionist attitude, he has been pushing himself and his dance partner to the limit. “Olya asked to stop training yesterday because she was too tired so it does show how fit V8 Supercar drivers are. She says that it is frustrating dancing with me because I want everything perfect and I will work at it and at it until its right.” While there are plenty of high profile contestants involved in the seventh series of Dancing with the Stars, Courtney is hoping that V8 fans will get behind him. “I’m really hoping that not only Ford fans but all V8 Supercar and motor sport fans in general will get behind me. My worst nightmare is being the first person to leave the show so please, get behind me and vote!”

Stone Brothers are after Will Davison at this stage, but they also have the option of there development series driver, up and coming " Jonathan Webb". Time will tell

Even at your worst scenario of 16L/100 you would be getting over 400km to a tank! And at (cough cough) 8L/100 on the highway, you could travel a distance of 850km without refuelling.

I never mentioned Performance mode

Don't single me out Tabby cat Half the replies were XR6T's and there was even an XR8 So go pick on someone your own size

10.5 L/100 Highway 16.6 L/100 City(hooning) 13.3 L/100 Average 18-20 L/100 Towing 1200kg

I would suggest this for your guideline: 1) Find quiet deserted long private driveway. 2) Put car into auto mode. 3) Press right pedal hard to floor and hold. 4) Record notes of speed at the point where each upshift is made. 5) Use these notes as a guideline and try to stay within these speeds when driving in manual mode. 6)If you accidentally have a slip up, computer safety management will intervene and cut your revs to save your engine and gearbox. NOW GET OUT THERE AND DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!

Even without the Edit, torque = 480nm @ 2000rpm Vs 337 @ 4700rpm power = 245kw Vs 201kw I think there dreaming!

Its all in my thread at Ford Torque Forum.

What he said

Those prices are soooo good now!, I paid 50g back in 2003 and got FA extras.

Sounds like UNDERsteer to me!

We have a Mazda 2 and it would be very hard to beat for quality and space, best little car I've ever driven, plus its got more gizmo's than my T.

Looks horn!, but obviously a disappointment. Good read though

I got that letter a week ago when Tom was over at my place for a barby

This Carsguide link says there will be another 5L V8.

I'm with you Jimmy, a "T" could pull away from the lights in a quiet and smooth manner and still be flogging the arse off a Charade LOL, I'm surprised the guy in the Charade was even able to make it to the speed limit.

This is YOU with an NA 6(AU pfft). So how you gonna get traction with 700RWK You sound like an ATTENTION seeker to me, your forum name says it all

I have one word "WOFTEAM" Either that or someone tell him he's DREAMING!

Thanks for a great unbiased report of your experience. So its pretty obvious that if the XR6T was a 6 speed AUTO there would have been a clear winner Clarke

Well it was nice to meet up at the track with some members I haven't seen for a while. I think it was a good day overall, whether was nice, view was good, (of the track of course) although I must admit I didn't miss that one dressed up as a Jeanie Yes, I know, a bloody Expensive Daewoo won, but the rest of the Fords certainly gathered a lot of points, especially Lowndes who has now slipped right up into 4th pos in the championship behind his team mate Whincup in 3rd And how good was it to see Dick nose Kelly back in the middle of the field Not to mention his drive through penalty, obviously all those letters sent to V8 supercars about favouritism must have worked. Can't wait for the next round, Team Vodafone are starting to hit there stride. Clarke

could be a lonely drive Clarke

Awe shucks, would you? You could always come and help me at work, we could use another ute to throw $hit in Clarke