Courtney's ominous Tickford warning
James Courtney is determined to add to his podium tally in Tasmania, saying Tickford Racing is “getting quite strong”.
#5 Snowy River Caravans Mustang driver Courtney finished third in Race 8 at the last round in Perth, his second podium visit in as many events.
On that occasion, Courtney got to keep his trophy, given he was penalised at Albert Park over his role in an incident.
Courtney was the strongest of the Tickford quartet in Perth, although the team managed to turn Cam Waters into a Sunday contender.
After Waters was spun out of the Saturday race, he returned on Sunday and finished eighth and sixth.
With finishes of fifth, third and ninth, Courtney vaulted from 24th to 17th in the standings, and is just 66 points from the top 10.
“I’d love to get another podium and keep momentum going as a team,” Courtney told Supercars.com.
'As a team, we’re getting quite strong'
“Cam had a tough Saturday [in Perth] but he’s been quite speedy throughout the year.
“But for himself, he hasn’t got the results he would’ve wanted. Thomas [Randle] is coming good with a couple of top 10s in Perth.
"And Declan the new boy in town, it’s a bit of a shock to the system for those guys coming up through Super2.
"As a team, we’re getting quite strong. We’re heading in the right direction, hopefully we can all have a strong weekend.”
Tickford was quick out of the gates in Tasmania last year, with Waters scoring pole for the opener before coming home third.
Courtney also brought home a brace of top 10 finishes, but the team still went winless at Symmons Plains.
The Campbellfield squad last won at the 2.4km Tasmania circuit in 2012 courtesy of Will Davison.
Courtney finished third in Perth
Courtney has never won a race in Tasmania, nor has he taken a pole position, his last podium coming with Walkinshaw Andretti United in 2018.
However, the 2010 series champion is confident his team is heading down the right path after a topsy-turvy start to the year.
Waters is credited with the Race 1 win in Newcastle, but Triple Eight and Erebus Camaros have been first to the chequered flag in all nine races.
Triple Eight has also won 16 of the last 20 races at Symmons Plains, with Shane van Gisbergen winning seven times.
“It’s a lot of straights — it’s like two drag strips,” Courtneys said of Symmons Plains.
“You need a lot of braking consistency, and a good comfortable car under braking.
“Turn 1 is like motocross, you’re up over the dip then over the hill and locking wheels and over a curb.
“You relax on the straight, then you gee yourself up for a massive bomb into the hairpin.
“Good engine, good braking and good results is what we need."
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint this weekend.
Tickets for the event are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.
