Supercars: James Courtney prepares for 400th race at Gold Coast 600
James Courtney’s time at Walkinshaw Andretti United is coming to an end and he would love nothing better mark his final race with the team at the Gold Coast 600 with a win.
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Gold Coast fan favourite James Courtney is chasing a fairytale farewell as he prepares to end a nine-year alliance with Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Courtney will hit the streets of Surfers Paradise for the Gold Coast 600 this weekend for the last time as a WAU driver ahead of his move to Tekno Autosports next year.
The Tekno outfit will become the first Sydney-based Supercars team in more than 15 years.
Courtney, 39, joined the Walkinshaw operation, then the Holden Racing Team, at the end of 2010 as the reigning series champion and has been a mainstay in the championship since.
And he wants to go out with a bang after a podium finish at the Bathurst 1000 put him in contention to claim the Pirtek Enduro Cup, awarded after the three endurance rounds.
“Nine years, it’s nearly a quarter of my life I’ve been working with the same group of guys,” Courtney said.
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“It’s going to be pretty emotional, especially at Newcastle when it’s coming to an end.
“I really would like to go out (with a win). The result we had at Bathurst has started us on the right foot for a result in the Pirtek Cup.
“It’d be amazing to deliver those guys the cup before I leave the team. That’s the focus for Jack (Perkins, co-driver) and myself.”
Courtney is sitting 11th in the championship standings and has not won a race in 2019, his best result being third at Bathurst a fortnight ago.
Courtney tasted success at his home track with a win in 2015 and was running third in last year’s Sunday race before a torrential downpour saw it abandoned.
He will be back racing next year in Tekno colours but hinted his career may be coming to an end.
“To be part of growing a Supercars team out there, it’s been 17 years since a team’s been based in Sydney, is fantastic,” he said.
“Everyone has been really excited to have a team in Sydney to cheer for.
“It’s something I can build on and work into my future and maybe once the racing stops I can get a job there afterwards.
“For the last nine years I’ve been commuting between here (Gold Coast) and Melbourne, now it will be from here to Sydney.
“I’ll be spending a lot more time there and will have a lot more involvement in this early phase with trying to get things in place.”
Courtney was in the mix to win his maiden Bathurst crown before DJR Team Penske’s infamous “go slow” controversy helped Scott McLaughlin take out the race.
Despite the drama, Courtney believes it was unlikely he would have won if the race continued without any dramas.
“No, we still had to put a full load (of fuel) in so we weren’t going to pop out in front,” he said.
“It probably affected Shane (Van Gisbergen) more than anyone and a few others.
“Those late safety cars affected our race. We were good to go to the end while the other guys weren’t going to make it.
“That’s racing. Third is better than fourth but not as good as second.
“It’s a result on the mountain which everyone goes there for.”
Practice for the GC600 starts on Friday, followed by racing on Saturday and Sunday.
Originally published as Supercars: James Courtney prepares for 400th race at Gold Coast 600