With more than 50 years of dedication to motorsport, Tony Thorne has built a remarkable career as a motorsport official, both in Australia and internationally.
Tony was recently recognised with two prestigious honours, the Supercars Certificate of Excellence for 50 years of service at the Bathurst 1000, and Motorsport Australia’s 40 Years of Service Award at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Congratulations, Tony!
As Deputy Chair of the NSW State Officiating Panel, he is currently working alongside Motorsport Australia to develop a national Volunteer Recruitment and Retention program, focused on attracting new officials and building clear pathways within the sport. Reflecting on a journey that has been as rewarding as it has been extensive, Tony hopes to inspire others to discover what’s possible when they take their first steps on the motorsport pathway.
Tony Thorne Motorsport – Over 50 years of Adventures!
In March 2025, I arrived in Melbourne for my 40th year and my last Australia Formula One Grand Prix as a motorsport volunteer.
This year’s event tops off a long motorsport pathway which started way back in the UK in April 1968, at my home racetrack Thruxton in Southwest UK.
Starting out as a track marshal with the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) and attending their mandatory trackside training, I progressed to being a Flag Marshal at both Thruxton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Castle Combe.
Back in those early days of Formula Cars, you could get up really close to the cars and drivers such as Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt and our own Tim Schenken.
We all know motor racing is dangerous and in 1971 at Brands Hatch for the Ken Tyrell celebratory event honouring Jackie Stewart winning his second F1 World Championship, a fiery crash by BRM Swiss driver Jo Siffert claimed his life. Being just two flag posts from that scene brought home the dangers of our sport to me.
Moving to Australia in 1972 and joining the Australian Automobile Racing Club (AARC) I continued motorsport at Warwick Farm seeing drivers such as Allan Moffat, John Goss, Leo Geoghan and Dick Johnson, and Formula 5000 Tasman series drivers Frank Matich, Kevin Barlett, Max Stewart and Graham McRae. The thunder of those F5000 V8 engines screaming along Hume Straight was just deafening!
Mount Panorama Bathurst was calling in 1973, along with Amaroo and Oran Park, great circuits and great events.
Australia received approval for a Formula One Grand Prix in 1985 for a circuit to be built around the streets of Adelaide. An event not to miss, so again being a “Flaggie” listening to those screaming V8, V10 and V12 engines around the Adelaide streets, is a noise the city will never forget.
With the F1GP moving to Melbourne, the 2025 event will become my 40th Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and also my last, as I reached the goal I set out to achieve!
In addition to F1 GPs as an accredited CAMS and Motorsport Australia volunteer official, I have been fortunate and privileged to be involved in many outstanding motorsport events such as Supercars, Bathurst 1000 plus Bathurst 24 hour and now Bathurst 12-hour GT events, and three opportunities to marshal at the 24 hour Le Mans in France.
As a Volunteer Motorsport Official over the past 56 years there have been many highlights, some of which I have already mentioned, however there are three (3) that stand out for different reasons, but each certainly memorable.
3) 1969 Crystal Palace circuit London – As a track Marshal pulling a driver out of a Formula Ford stranded in the garden bushes, only to find it was James Hunt
2) 2006 Melbourne F1GP – Assisting Michael Schumacher to get out of a stranded Ferrari caught in a gravel trap and speaking with him during the exercise.
1) 1988 Adelaide F1GP – Attended a Shell media evening where Murray Walker was interviewing Ayrton Senna. At the end of the evening not only was I introduced to, spoke with and shook the hand of Murray Walker, but also had the absolute special pleasure and opportunity to speak with and shake the hand of Ayrton Senna.
Clearly the most memorable event of my motorsport career!
Perhaps other highlights can include being selected as a team member of the CAMS / Motorsport Australia International Training Team, which was requested by the FAI for the trackside training of marshals of new circuits having their first Formula One Grand Prix.
Starting in 2004 in Bahrain, and then Singapore, followed by South Korea, which involved many trips to these countries providing both theory and practical training.
While not F1, our team also went to Manilla Philippines for track side training as a part of their championship series.
My travels continued within the team going to Russia for their first F1 GP trackside training, certainly an interesting opportunity and venue.
And our last International Training occurred only a few years ago being called up to go to Doha in Qatar to assist with the trackside officials training for their first Formula One Grand Prix.
So, looking back over the 50 plus years in motorsport volunteering, its rewarding to see so many developments and safety improvements occurring across our sport.
It is also rewarding to see a continuing level of volunteers coming into the sport, because without volunteers in our motor sport there simply would not be the sport we all love and enjoy.
Tony Thorne – Motorsport Accredited Official
Gold Flags, Silver Sector Bronze, Event Command, Course Presenter and Event Assessor