Advertisement

Kyly Clarke 'spotted kissing' Supercars driver at Bathurst 1000

Kyly and Michael Clarke, pictured here before their divorce.
Kyly Clarke posted a photo from inside James Courtney's garage at Bathurst. Image: Getty/Instagram

Kyly Clarke, the ex-wife of Australian cricket great Michael Clarke, has reportedly moved on with Supercars driver James Courtney.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Clarke and Courtney were “spotted kissing passionately” at Mount Panorama on Thursday as Courtney tunes up for this weekend’s Bathurst 1000.

‘WHAT WAS THAT’: Fans fume over Steve Smith moment

BOMBSHELL: South Africa facing ban from international cricket

“It is early days but they are very happy,” a ‘source close to the couple’ reportedly told The Telegraph.

“They dated about 20 years ago after meeting through friends and family.”

According to the report, Clarke and Courtney first met when she was 11, with the pair reconnecting recently on social media.

“They just clicked when they reconnected and everything is going well. It is like a fairytale because they were together all those years ago so it has come full circle,” the source reportedly said.

Clarke seemingly confirmed the rumours by posting a number of photos trackside at Bathurst on social media, including ones that appear to be from inside Courtney’s garage.

Kyly and Michael Clarke announced their separation in February after seven years of marriage.

“After living apart for some time, we have made the difficult decision to ­separate as a couple, amicably,” they said in a statement.

“With the greatest of respect for each other, we’ve come to the ­mutual conclusion that this is the best course for us to take while committed to the co-parenting of our daughter.”

Kyly Clarke, pictured here at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000.
Kyly Clarke posted a number of photos from Mount Panorama. Image: Instagram

Michael Clarke has since moved on with fashion designer Pip Edwards, the pair reportedly set to make their first public appearance together at The Everest racing event in Sydney on Saturday.

“I think I’m extremely lucky to have been able to go through a separation with the mother of my child and us still be great friends,” Clarke told KISS 1065 radio in July.

“I actually think Kyly and my friendship now is as strong as it’s ever been.

“We still talk daily and I think you’ve heard Kyly say as well both of us will always prioritise our daughter and a big part of that is a friendship between mum and dad.”

The former Australian cricket captain said he and Kyly were fortunate to have had several months to adapt to life apart, before news of their split was made public.

“We were lucky in a sense that we went through our separation five or six months before it touched the media so that allowed us the time to deal with (it),” Clarke said.

“Like any break-up it’s always tough, so thankfully we were able to do that before it got out to the media.

“There’s a lot worse things in life. We’ve got a great relationship, a beautiful little girl and we move forward.”

View this post on Instagram

Happy bday legend @cqphotography @leanne.quinn @pipedwards

A post shared by Michael Clarke (@michaelclarkeofficial) on

James Courtney’s marriage breakdown

In June, Courtney opened up about the breakdown of his own marriage.

The 2010 Supercars champion endured the very public breakdown of his marriage of 16 years with wife Carys in 2017.

The 39-year-old was then forced to battle for custody of his children while fighting to save his career over a nightmare two-year struggle.

“The last couple of years have been easily the hardest of my life,” Courtney told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I was trying to perform in the spotlight while my life was falling apart.”

James Courtney, pictured here prior to the Sydney Supersprint in June.
James Courtney speaks to the media ahead of the Sydney Supersprint in June. (Photo by Handout/Mark Horsburgh/Edge Photographics via Getty Images )

Courtney said he was blindsided when Carys told him it was all over after the New Zealand leg of the 2017 Supercars season.

Courtney was suffering through the worst season of his career, compounded when it was revealed that Carys was dating high-profile Sydney pub baron Stu Laundy.

“It got very unpleasant and there were things that were being dealt with at the track that should have been dealt with earlier in the week,” Courtney said.

“Things were aired at the wrong time and it was tough. I was lucky the guys in the team understood what I was going through and they understood if I needed some time to myself.”

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.