Courtney's unexpected Gold Coast reunion

The post-Bathurst chassis change forced upon James Courtney does not mean he’ll have unfamiliar machinery for his home race later this month.

Courtney’s usual Ford Mustang (TR 2025) is out of action following a major Great Race crash involving his co-driver Zane Goddard.

The incident has indeed forced a continuation of the musical chairs at Tickford Racing, with Courtney shifting into the former Thomas Randle car which was at the centre of a start-line shunt at Tailem Bend in July.

Damage to that car (PRA 1722) saw Randle switch to FPR 1519 from Sandown onwards, the latter having acted as Zak Best’s wildcard Supercar at Darwin and The Bend.

Now, PRA 1722 is being prepared for redeployment at the Gold Coast 500 in what is a reunion with Courtney.

PRA 1722 was the car in which Courtney contested his first full Ford season – i.e. 2021 – since his 2010 title triumph at Dick Johnson Racing.

Courtney took that very Mustang to third place at Sydney Motorsport Park last year to keep alive his streak of scoring at least one podium in every season he’s been full-time, which dates back to 2006.

Debuting at the 2018 Adelaide 500, PRA 1722 has started 142 Repco Supercars Championship races for a return of 16 podiums.

Its sole win to date came in the hands of Cam Waters at The Bend in 2020.

The Gold Coast meanwhile was the site of Courtney’s second-most recent victory, an emotional win on return from injury, alongside Jack Perkins in 2015.

The other cars involved in the Lap 5 Bathurst crash earlier this month – BJR 007 and KR011 – will be repaired in time for the October 28-30 event at Surfers Paradise.