TALK regarding James Courtney’s anticipated move to the Blanchard Racing Team has gone quiet of late, but don’t read too much into that.
Courtney today indicated an update won’t be far away – in fact, probably ahead of this weekend’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
“Hopefully before the weekend we’ll be able to announce what’s happening next year,” he said.
“I’m loving my racing, don’t want to give it up, so there’s something exciting coming up in the next couple of days.”
Courtney will leave Tickford Racing after the best part of four seasons, as the Campbellfield squad downsizes to two cars. Cam Waters and Thomas Randle will be retained, while Courtney and Declan Fraser depart.
At the same time, BRT has acquired a second Teams Racing Charter effective 2024, as well as the Gen3 Mustang currently being raced by Fraser.
Courtney had already hinted to V8 Sleuth after Bathurst: “You won’t be getting rid of me yet. I’m like a cold sore, I always pop up somewhere.”
The 43-year-old has been competitive this season; he was on the podium at Perth and is the fifth-highest ranked Mustang driver overall in 13th (only behind Chaz Mostert, Anton De Pasquale, Waters and Will Davison) despite two did-not-starts.
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Courtney and co-driver Zak Best defied power steering problems to finish sixth at Bathurst.
The 2010 champion empathised with Best’s plight, the perennial Super2 title contender still without a main game drive locked in.
“He’s been in the wrong place at the wrong time really,” said Courtney.
“It’s mentally really tough for him with each year, the last three years, everyone who he has been racing has gone onto the main game.
“Hopefully he can get his break. He showed (at Bathurst) when he gets his shit together, he’s a quality bloke and he’s young, so he has got plenty of life in him.
“I just hope an opportunity comes for him before he decides to pack it in.”
Ryan Wood has already been confirmed to graduate from Super2 into Walkinshaw Andretti United’s top squad, and Aaron Love is expected to do the same for BRT.
