James Courtney will be “sad” when he completes his final supercars race at Symmons Plains this weekend

There have been crashes, bashes and punch-ups for James Courtney since his Symmons Plains debut in 2007. Here’s his top five moments in Tasmania.

James Courtney at Symmons Plains on Friday. Picture: Edge Photographics

It’s a lap of honour for one of the best Australian drivers to don a race suit as Gold Coast ace James Courtney races at Symmons Plains one last time before hanging up the helmet at the end of the season.

After three races in the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super440, there be mixed feeling for the former champion, multiple race winner and all-round legend when the flag drops at Symmons Plains on Sunday.

“It will be sad knowing it’s my last time racing here,” Courtney said.

“The feeling is a bit unusual and it will be the same each round I go to this year, it’s going to a strange feeling.”

James Courtney at Symmons Plains on Friday. Picture: Edge Photographics

Aside from racing, Tassie has a special place in Courtney’s heart.

“I love it coming here. Tassie’s a great place and we always have a good time coming down here,” he said.

“During the Covid period and everyone was locked down, I came down here for a long time with my wife, so I like coming down here.”

Courtney debuted at Symmons Plains in 2006.

“There have been some mad moments in Tassie,” he said.

“Will [Davison] and I almost had a punch-up at the hairpin – that’s something I will remember and they always play it on TV when we come here.

“Chaz [Mostert] was into the back of me and pushed me into Will and he spun.

“He got out, all agro and thinking it was me who ran into him on purpose and wanted to fight me.

“That was a pretty funny moment.”

Crash images fro race 1 during the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint, in Launceston, Australia, April 08, 2017.

Courtney will never forget one of the biggest pile-ups in Supercars history and his part in it when a huge crash involving 12 cars happened on lap two in 2017.

“I was right in the middle of that,” Courtney said.

“I was one of two cars that was so badly damaged they couldn’t race any more.

“There’s been some monumental shunts here over the years, and how crazy and aggressive the racing has been so far this year I’m expecting more of the same this time.”

James Courtney will return to Symmons Plains for his 18th supercars event next weekend. Picture Supercars Australia.

It may not be the last time supercar fans see Courtney at Symmons Plains.

“Hopefully I’m back next year in some sort of capacity, and the years to follow,” he said.

“I don’t think I could just walk away and never return.”

That could be working with a team or in the media.

“Ether or _ I’d love to do stuff with the media, I enjoy that side of things,” he said.

“I think that would be a nice transition from racing.”

The final comment Courtney for local fans: “I love Tassie”.

JAMES COUNRTNEY TOP 5 MOMENTS IN TASMANIA

1. “Tassie Tangle” in 2017 – a 12-car pile-up on the straight leading to the hair-pin. It stopped the race and put one driver in hospital and totaled Courtney’s car.

2. Four years earlier, Courtney almost came to blows with Will Davison when they crash at the hairpin. JC was pushed into Davison, who thought it was deliberate, and jumped out of his car ready to fight.

3. When Covid shut down the championship in 2020, James Courtney still came to Tasmania later on for a protracted stay with his wife, which included a visit to a “abandoned” Symmons.

4. Talking to Tasmanian supercar hero John Bowe at Symmons on his way to the 2010 championship. Courtney delivered Dick Johnson Racing its first championship title in 15 years _ the previous winner for DJR being Bowe.

5. Courtney remembers being o-so-close to his only win at Symmons. His best result was second to another legend, Craig Lowndes in the opening round in 2014. His last Symmons podium was in round one, 2018.