Courtney set to return

The Holden Racing Team's James Courtney is expected to announce today that he will be behind the wheel of his V8 Supercar at this weekend's Castrol Gold Coast 600.

The 2010 Champion was injured in a freak accident in pit lane at Sydney Motorsport Park in August, which left him with five broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Courtney's recovery has gone to plan and while he has been forced to miss the Wilson Security Sandown 500 and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, he is expected to be fit for his home race on the Gold Coast, which kicks off on Friday.

It is believed the 35-year old had a secret drive last week at Norwell to ensure he was comfortable behind the wheel, and now he is set to pair up with Jack Perkins for the final endurance round of 2015.

Veteran racer Russell Ingall stepped in for Courtney across the past two races, but on the weekend was announced as replacement for Chaz Mostert in a Prodrive Ford Falcon for the Gold Coast round.

While Courtney had been eager to get behind the wheel for Bathurst, he wasn't quite ready physically, and found watching on "incredibly frustrating".

He has been working with the team's respected physio and trainer Phil Young to prepare for his return to racing.

The Gold Coast circuit is demanding with aggressive kerbs, and Courtney will need to complete driver changes with Perkins. Action is split across two 300km races over two days and based on each race running full distance, Courtney would have to complete at least 34 laps each race.

Courtney is yet to win a race at the Castrol Gold Coast 600 and while the #22 went in as a good prospect for the past two years with Greg Murphy co-driving, the pair had a shocking two years recording 21st position in both of last year's races and DNFs the previous year.