Courtney, Richards join HRT family for 2005 enduros
16/2/2005 18:59 (Press Release) -
Former Formula 1 test driver James Courtney will join one of the country’s most successful racing drivers, Jim Richards, in the second Holden Racing Team Commodore for the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, the team announced today.
It will be a welcome return home for the Sunshine Coast-based 24-year-old, who has not driven competitively on Australian soil since his junior karting days and is one of a handful of Australians following in the footsteps of F1 ace Mark Webber in making a big impact on the international scene.
“I’ve always watched Bathurst from a distance on the other side of the world and wanted to be a part of it,” Courtney said.
“Now I have that opportunity and it’s in a car and team that have proven themselves over the years. Driving for the works Holden team is a big deal and having Jim as a partner will only speed up my learning process with the V8 Supercar.
“I’m quite excited about the chance to race in Australia again. I haven’t raced a car at home at all because I moved overseas when I was still in karts. It won’t be a walk in the park, that’s for sure.”
In 2004 Courtney made his “tin-top” debut in the All-Japan GT Championship, where he finished the season 6th driving a Toyota Supra. A two-time world karting champion (1995 junior and 1997 Formula A), he also won the British Formula Ford Championship (2000), was runner-up in the British Formula 3 Championship (2002), won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship (2003) and was a test and development driver for F1 team Jaguar Racing (2001-02).
V8 rookie Courtney will have the perfect partner for his V8 Supercar debut in Richards, a seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner and four-time Australian Touring Car Champion who at the age of 57 is one of the most versatile and accomplished drivers of the modern era.
Richards’ last Bathurst win was in 2002, in a HRT Commodore he shared with Mark Skaife. He also drove for HRT in the 2003 enduros, qualifying 3rd and finishing 5th at Bathurst with Tony Longhurst.
For the past two seasons, and again in 2005, Richards has driven a Porsche in the prestigious Carrera Cup series, which he won in 2003. He has also been consistently competitive in other forms of motorsport, winning the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally a record seven times and several other tarmac rallies including the 2005 Mt Buller Sprint.
“I’m very excited about teaming up with James – guys of his calibre and talent are alwaysgoing to make a quick transition and get on the pace straight away,” Richards said.
“And of course, if there’s anything I can offer to help him get up to speed, I’ll be happy to do it.
“Personally, I’m really looking forward to linking up with HRT again. The cars are always beautifully turned out and although luck wasn’t with the team last year, they certainly weren’t lacking for pace.”
In 2004, Richards teamed with son Steven for the enduros and the pair was well in podium contention at Bathurst when a bizarre collision with a stray kangaroo ended their day.
“After that experience, I decided that I would prefer to be in a ‘second’ car – there’s a lot less stress involved,” Richards said. “HRT was definitely my first choice so I was really pleased to get the call from Mark (Skaife) offering me a seat.”
Team owner Skaife – himself a four-time Bathurst 1000 champion and winner of the Sandown 500 with Todd Kelly in 2003 – said he was delighted with the blend of youth and experience that Courtney and Richards would bring to the team’s second entry.
“James is one of the most gifted and exciting young talents anywhere,” Skaife said. “He has succeeded in every category he has driven in and is probably unlucky not to be driving against Mark Webber in F1.
“Jim Richards is the consummate professional – he can drive anything and never gives less than 110 per cent. I expect he will be a great mentor for James, especially when it comes to learning about Mt Panorama.
“Richo is the best driver in Australasia not to be racing full-time in V8 Supercars and we are delighted to have him as part of our team again this year.”
Skaife said he was pleased to settle the enduro line-up before the season began. “Once the season gets going it can be difficult to look at the bigger picture stuff,” he said.
“Settling this is one of many things we’re putting in place to keep our own focus on winning races. Psychologically, it’s a huge advantage to know well ahead of time that we have a couple of highly professional and reliable drivers who are ready to go.
“We can also give both drivers some valuable time in the car at any of several test sessions between now and the enduros. It gives us a degree of certainty and flexibility that you always want.”
Release Date: 15/02/2005
Holden Racing Team
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