Courtney boosted by Sydney homecoming

Sydney-born James Courtney says he has felt an "extra lift" heading into this weekend’s Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight.

The Tickford Racing driver will record his 216th round start at his home circuit.

Courtney confirmed earlier this month he will remain with the Ford squad for 2022 and beyond.

To date, Courtney has won 15 races from 482 starts, but has yet to record a win at the Eastern Creek venue.

His best result in Sydney was third in in the 2016 Saturday race.

Growing up in Penrith, Courtney is hoping for a hometown advantage.

"SMSP hasn’t been so great to me in the past," said Courtney when asked by Supercars.com.

"I think the last time we blew a diff back in the HRT [Holden Racing Team] days but yeah, as a team at Tickford, we've been kicking goals.

"Cam’s [Cameron Waters] come off a winner Townsville and the car performance has been really, really good.

"It’s my home event and where I'm from, so it gives you the extra lift.

"My sister's going to come out and I haven't seen her for a couple of years, so I have to put on a good show for her.

"As a team, we are pretty confident we can have a pretty good package to fight with.

"Obviously the Red Bull guys on the Shell V-Power guys are going be pretty speedy, but hopefully the Boost Mobile Mustang and Monster Mustang will be right there pushing them."

Sydney Motorsport Park will host the first of four consecutive rounds from this weekend.

The Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight will stage three 32-lap sprint races.

Courtney sits 12th on Supercars’ all-time list with 60 podium finishes, his last coming in Darwin last August.

He narrowly missed out on a maiden Tickford podium at SMSP last year, being out-dragged to the line by Scott McLaughlin.

The veteran driver is ninth in the 2021 standings heading to Sydney Motorsport Park.

The 41-year-old is looking forward to the challenge of running under lights and putting on a show for his hometown fans.

McLaughlin pips Courtney to the podium in 2020

"It’s just fantastic, I love being able to come back here, it's where it all started for me," said Courtney, who will run with an updated livery this weekend.

"Western Sydney, it’s heartland Supercars fans out here.

"The track produces great racing, some guys are saying the surfaces pretty bad in parts, and it's been resurfaced in others, but to be honest the bad part of the circuit produces really good racing because it wears the tyres and mixes up the strategy.

"We are night racing too, so it's going to be pretty spectacular.

"Everyone in this part of the world has been cooped up and it's been really tough.

"It's good to be able to come here and put on such an amazing show.

The updated livery on the #44 Boost Mobile Mustang

"To give everyone something to come and have a look at and cheer and be happy about.

"It’s great to be able to be here and be out and about and start to do what we love."

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will continue at this weekend’s Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight. Tickets for all four upcoming Sydney events are on sale now.

All sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and streamed via Kayo.

The Seven Network will broadcast live from 3:30pm AEDT on Saturday and 12:30pm AEDT on Sunday.

The Repco Supercars Championship field will head out for Practice 1 at 3:50pm AEDT on Friday.