SUPERCARS champion James Courtney is keen to follow former teammate Garth Tander into a post-racing television career.
Courtney and fellow Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle will dovetail racing duties at this weekend’s Perth SuperSprint with some support category commentating.
Courtney has had an increasing presence in the broadcast, also running driver’s eye technology as well as making himself available for live in-car crosses during competitive sessions.
While he’s committed to maximising his time behind the wheel, the 42-year-old admits he has one eye on a future in the television scene.
“I enjoy doing it and it’s sort of something where I’m at the point of my career when you start looking at what else you can do after,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“I’ve seen Garth has rolled in and I think Garth is doing an amazing job, he has been really good and it’s definitely something I would look at doing.”
Courtney recently had looked set to extend his streak of successive seasons with a podium to 18, only to be stripped of second place in Race 2 at Albert Park.
An inferno the following day cost him more crucial points, leaving him an unrepresentative 24th in the championship.
“Until I’m wobbling around in 24th legitimately, I’ll be pressing to continue racing,” Courtney said of his intentions.
“But yeah, I enjoy doing the crosses to Neil (Crompton) whilst I’m in the car and using the helmet cam – it’s good to give the public a good insight into what’s going on and talking them through what I’m feeling when I’m driving.
“I used to love when they would go to that, I remember being a little kid and watching them talk to Dick (Johnson) and (Peter) Brock when they were racing and driving around and I thought how amazing that was.
“To now be doing it, it’s pretty cool, to be giving that little bit of insight that no one else is doing, I feel lucky to be able to do it.”
Courtney has another 22 races this year to continue his streak of seasons with a podium finish, having grabbed silverware every year since his maiden full-time campaign in 2006.
