Courtney’s still driven
SUPERCARS veteran James Courtney has vowed to keep the sport’s next generation honest after signing a new deal that will keep him racing into his mid-40s.
The oldest driver on the Supercars grid, the 41-yearold former series champion said he was confident he had plenty more left in the tank
after re-signing on a multiyear deal with Tickford Racing.
Courtney is in his second year with the Tickford Racing squad after a short-lived stint with Team Sydney at the start of last year’s championship.
The new deal will take Courtney into a 17th season and beyond in Supercars after making his debut as a fulltime driver for Stone Brothers
Racing in 2006. Courtney, the 2010 Supercars champion, said he was enjoying his racing as much as ever and was confident he could remain competitive.
“If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would still be wanting to be racing into my mid-40s I would have laughed,” Courtney said.
“I know everyone says it but I feel better than I ever
have when I’m in the car. I’m certainly not reaching for a walking stick or anything like that, I think I’m still pretty fit.
“I don’t think I’m sweating half as much as the young blokes getting out either. I think I can hold my own still.
“The unique thing with our sport is I don’t think age has as much of a factor as what it does with ball sports. There is a little bit of an element to it with being reactionary but I think as a sport we can prolong our career a lot longer than others.”
Courtney holds the title of the oldest Supercars driver ahead of Team 18’s Mark Winterbottom (40) and Will Davison and Fabian Coulthard (both 39). He is 20 years older than the youngest driver on the Supercars grid – Jake Kostecki.