Courtney starts fresh but faces challenges
JAMES Courtney can’t wait for a clean slate but he has warned fans that it is likely to be a slow climb back to the top of the sport, outside of the usual flash in the pan at Adelaide.
Courtney has been an everpresent threat in the Supercars field since debuting full-time in 2006, hovering between sixth and 11th in the standings other than his 2010 title triumph – and last year’s disaster.
Aside from the opening round at Adelaide – where he and the team have typically been strong – the Holden megastar was powerless to fight the best in the business in a shoddy Commodore.
By season’s end, he was 21st in a field where only 24 drivers contested the whole season.
With a new dawn for his team, under the Walkinshaw Andretti United banner, comes renewed hope.
“Obviously last year wasn’t fantastic so I am excited to be able to start again really,” he told the Bulletin.
Despite having to wait for a new chassis until about roughly the time the series heads to Tasmania in April, Courtney is optimistic about the ZB body shape introduced to Holden teams this year.
The 37-year-old realises a resurgence is going to take time, however.
“As a team we’re obviously hoping to have that speed – that’s what we are here for, is to win,” he said. “It’s a learning process and I don’t think we will come out and dominate.
“It’s just a matter of Adelaide, typically every year we go well there but then once we get to the other permanent circuits is when it is going to be more (difficult).”