Courtney back in the mood
BEING dumped from the iconic Holden Racing Team branding was exactly the kick up the bum James Courtney’s Walkinshaw Racing needed.
When the Gold Coast speedster moved to the legendary red team ahead of the 2011 season, it was meant to be the merging of two titanic forces.
One a historic powerhouse; the other the reigning champion who had just helped Dick Johnson Racing punch above their weight to prevent a Triple Eight and Jamie Whincup three-peat.
Results haven’t eventuated for the dream combination however, with Courtney only once placing higher than 10th in the championship (sixth in 2014) in his six seasons with the team.
Holden have now instead placed their faith solely in the all-conquering Triple Eight squad, leaving Walkinshaw to rename themselves the Mobil 1 HSV Racing team.
Courtney said his team had been too “hot and cold” for too long but believes their new era is exactly what they needed as they chase a change in fortunes.
“It’s definitely what lifted everyone’s moods. It’s like a re- birthing I suppose, so bornagain Christians maybe,” he laughed. “But it has definitely lightened the mood and every- thing about the team. It’s sort of like wiping the slate clean.”
Courtney spoke of how the team’s atmosphere had changed dramatically with the departure of “such a strong figure” as long-time teammate Garth Tander, who was shown the door late last year after being with Walkinshaw for more than a decade.
In his place has come Scott Pye on a long-term deal.
“He (Pye) seems quite eager to learn, quite down to earth, easy going,” said Courtney, who embarked on a holiday to the Great Barrier Reef after the Supercars season launch last week.
“You don’t really know someone until a high-pressure situation, heat of the moment but, yeah, look I think it should be good.”
Qualifying has been a much-publicised weak point for the team but Courtney is hopeful their efforts to rectify their one-lap pace will bear fruit.
“Pretty much from midway last year we focused a lot of our energy on that,” he said.
“It makes the weekend a lot easier if we qualify towards the front.”
It’s that, combined with improved consistency, which the 36-year-old plans to underpin his title bid.
“We’re going to focus on getting good, clean weekends where we are consistently fighting for podiums every weekend and let the championship take care of itself.”
First up on the calendar is his beloved Clipsal 500 event from March 2 to 5.
Courtney has tasted victory on his last three visits to the Adelaide street circuit – including trumping Whincup in an epic battle last year.