'I have no idea how she met him': Wife of V8 champion James Courtney - who 'announced their separation on Instagram last month' - passionately kisses reality TV star Stu Laundy in Hawaii

• e-mail

He has handled some perilous and near-fatal moments on the track, but V8 racing champion James Courtney's biggest challenge has perhaps been the breakdown of his 16-year marriage.

The 38-year-old is believed to have recently discovered his wife, Carys, 37, has flown to Hawaii with her new lover millionaire publican Stu Laundy after she announced their split on Instagram last month. 

Now images have emerged of Carys and Sophie Monk's ex-boyfriend, Stu, 45, engaging in a passionate kiss during their Hawaiian tryst.

Marriage woes: V8 racing champion James Courtney's wife Carys flew to Hawaii with her new lover Stu Laundy after she announced their split on Instagram. Now pictures have emerged of Stu and Carys kissing in Hawaii over the weekend (pictured)

Speaking to Woman's Day, the super car champion, pictured here with his ex-wife Carys in happier times, revealed: 'I have no idea how she met him'

Last week Carys travelled to the Halekulani resort in Waikiki for a romantic week away with Stu. 

James, who met Carys when she was just 20, claims he knew nothing of the tryst.

On Saturday, the pair were seen kissing on lounge chairs outside the luxury location, with a bikini-clad Carys passionately embracing her new man. 

The new couple couldn't keep their hands off one another, sharing a series of kisses as they lay on lounge chairs by a pool.

Speaking to Woman's Day this week, the super car champion revealed: 'I have no idea how she met him, and I really don't care what she does in her personal life now.'   

Loved up: Carys travelled to the Halekulani resort in Waikiki for a romantic week away with Stu. Her ex James claims he knew nothing of the tryst

Smitten: A bikini-clad Carys was seen passionately embracing her new man

Smooches: Carys held onto Stu's face softly as they smooched

Saucy: The new couple appeared quite amorous in the snaps, their bodies pressed together 

So close! The pair could keep their hands off one another, sharing a series of kisses

Seeming quite relaxed, the pair spent time around the pool, with Stu dressed casually in a white T-shirt, cap and sunglasses. 

Carys donned a red bikini, sunglasses and neon orange tasseled earrings, her hair in a high bun.

Later she took a dip in the ocean on her own, showing off her curves in the skimpy crimson swimwear.

Chilling: Seeming quite relaxed, Stu and Carys spent time around the pool

Casual:  Stu was dressed casually in a white shirt, cap and sunglasses 

Holidaying: The new couple seemed very at ease as they enjoyed the resort 

Hair up: Carys wore her hair in a high bun, strands loose at the back 

Laying around! Former Bachelorette star Stu seemed to take a nap at one stage 

Who's calling? Stu appeared to look at his phone while Carys stood nearby 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Stu Laundy and Carys Courtney for comment.

On June 4, travel agent Carys had announced that her marriage to James was over by posting an announcement to her Instagram account.

The pair share two children Zara, 10, and Cadel, eight, and dogs Diva and Tojo.

She wrote: 'After 16 years together, James and I have decided to separate. We share two amazing children and our priority is and always will be our children. My hope now is that we will continue to grow into a relationship as positive co-parents.'

Champion: James won the 2010 V8 Supercars Championship and in the 2018 series, he finished 10th overall

Itsy bitsy: The busty travel agent showed off her curves in a tiny red bikini 

Warm weather: She stood on the foamy shore observing her lovely surroundings 

Bottoms up: Carys wore a red bikini that showed off her pert derriere 

Sight unseen: The beauty's rib tattoo, written in script, was visible as she cooled off in the surf

Orange you glad you wore those! The brunette donned tasseled orange earrings in the surf 

Slicked back: After her dip, the travel agent's hair was slicked back off her face

Earlier: Carys had left Stu by the pool as she headed to the beach with a blue towel alone 

A source reportedly told Woman's Day that James had been 'blindsided' by the Instagram post and had seen it while dropping the couple's two children to school.

The V8 champion had re-proposed to Carys in 2015 and the pair went on a second honeymoon in 2016. 

All appeared to be well with the Courtneys until January, when they stopped posting photos of each other on social media. 

Holiday: James claims he has no idea how Stu and Carys met and says he has not met him 

Difficult times: In early June, travel agent Carys had announced that her marriage to James was over by posting an announcement to her Instagram account (pictured)

Carys was previously a trainee veterinary nurse before she became a full-time mum and housewife.

In 2016, the mother-of-two, who prefers the term WIMS (Women In Motorsport) over WAGs, said living with a racing car driver is an 'emotional rollercoaster.'

'I'm not a sportsperson so I had to learn how these people function. I read a lot of psychology books because I wanted to understand it – what drives them,' she told The Advertiser.

'And the most testing times? 'You can have empathy, but I haven't raced a car. I don't know what's going through his head. The downside is there's only one winner. They have to deal with that mentally every week. And we've seen it, when the guys are at a low, it can creep further and further,' she said. 

She wrote: 'After 16 years together, James and I have decided to separate. We share two amazing children and our priority is and always will be our children.' Pictured: Courtney family

In 2011, Carys told the Gold Coast Bulletin that she was a 'support person' for her husband and had moved with him around the world for his career.

She said: 'James moved to Europe for racing and I followed him there. From there we moved to Japan and later back to Australia.'

James is the driver of the No. 25 Holden ZB Commodore for Walkinshaw Andretti United.

What went wrong? The V8 champion had re-proposed to Carys in 2015 and the couple went on a second honeymoon in 2016. Pictured: James and Carys in happier times

He won the 2010 V8 Supercars Championship and in the 2018 series, he finished 10th overall.

Stu, who shares four children with his estranged wife Rachel, split from Sophie Monk, who he met on The Bachelorette last year, in January.  

He is a third-generation publican from a famous Australian hotel family.

His share of a $400 million family fortune was built from taking over a single pub in Sydney's working class inner-west at the end of World War II. 

Stu's brother Craig, 46, is assistant industry minister in the Turnbull government, after previously working for Laundy Hotels.   

Former love: Stu split from Sophie Monk (right), who he met on The Bachelorette, in January