Courtney says car Holden team back
connor.o’brien@news.com.au victim in the 12-car pile-up at Tasmania that wiped him out of action for the rest of the weekend there before a series of issues arose at Phillip Island a fortnight ago to restrict him to a 21st and 20th.
“It’s definitely not the way we wanted it to go, that’s for sure,” he told the Bulletin.
“It has been very frustrating so working pretty hard to get things back on track.”
There is no doubt the avid Penrith Panthers fan is due for a dose of good luck.
But on the flipside – perhaps most heartbreakingly – is the fact the team he is now in his seventh season with have again delivered a car that is incapable of fighting for the title. Courtney and teammate Scott Pye are 14th and 18th respectively in the championship.
The 36-year-old Gold Coaster is certain the car is better than that – but still far from where it needs to be.
“Look I would say we’re about sixth admitted.
“We don’t have the speed of the two Triple Eight, the two FPR (Prodrive) guys and the two Penske guys, they’re in a different class to us.
“We’re fighting it out in ‘class B’ front rows so it’s definitely not what I’m here for or what as a team we’re striving for. It’s just not good enough really … (I’m) sick of excuses.
“Ultimately it (the car) is not fast enough. We have just got to generate more speed and the design team have really got to lift their game if we’re going to be in it. It’s holding us back.” realistically,” he
This weekend’s action at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth presents an opportunity for Courtney to strike back at a circuit that he says can produce unpredictable results courtesy of high tyre degradation and strategy.
“If we can bridge the gap to those front guys a little bit, I’d say that would be a successful weekend,” he said.
“Friday (practice) is going to be a pretty hectic program for us. We’re searching for that car speed that we’re lacking so we have got a lot of crap to go through to try to get some sort of direction so it is going to be a big, very important Friday.”