Australian Formula One Championship

Craig Bailey is arguably Australia’s premier Formula One outboard driver after winning the Australian Formula One Championship for an unprecedented three consecutive years and a record breaking 7 times in total including 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Craig also won the 2002, 2003 and 2004 pole position championships awarded to the driver who claims the best qualifying results over the course of the season.

Formula 1 boat racing requires incredible endurance, concentration and physical fitness, the races placing the body under unbelievable strain. The drivers heart rate rises to a rate in excess of 190 beats per minute and the body is subject to pressures of up to 4 “G’s” during cornering, often taken at speeds of 100mph. When Craig is not working as a performance outboard mechanic at his Sydney marine dealership, he maintains himself in peak physical fitness by competing in triathlons, cycling, swimming, and touch football.

In addition, Craig has won the most prestigious outboard trophy in Australia – the Arch Spooner Gold Cup a record 7 times including the recently contested 2005 event. The Arch Spooner Gold Cup is a one off Championship to determine the Australian Unlimited Outboard champion (it is the Australian championship event open to any outboard powered boat). This year’s win follows from wins in 2003, 2002 and 2001. The 2002 Championship was very gratifying as Craig won it against the South African National Champion (Peter Lindenberg) who travelled to Perth, Australia to challenge Craig for the event.

Other Recent Wins

As well as F1 events, Craig campaigns in “open class” powerboat racing with the APBA (Australian Powerboat Association). In his own “Unlimited Outboard” class he holds the record for most wins of the Australian Championship – 6 times.

In addition, Craig also competes against supercharged inboard displacement and hydroplane boats. In this class of racing Craig has won every premier race in Australia (many more than once) over this career. Highlights include winning the St George Champion of Champions a record 6 times as well as the Dorwin Gold Cup (South Australia’s premier powerboat event) a record equalling 5 times. In addition, Craig has also won the Stannard Cup – Australasian Unlimited Open powerboat championship.