Courtney takes Finals hit with untimely race-ending failure
James Courtney literally watches potential top five go up in smoke
2010 champion running fifth as engine failure ends Townsville hopes
Courtney now 230 points from top 10 heading into Sunday
An untimely engine failure ended James Courtney's hopes of a strong result at the NTI Townsville 500, with the 2010 champion's Finals hopes copping a hammer blow.
Running a strong fifth in Saturday's race, Courtney was ruled out of contention in dramatic fashion.
On lap 12 of the 70-lapper, attention turned to Courtney's smoking #7 Snowy River Caravans Ford Mustang, which came to a halt on the run to pit exit.
Courtney brought his Ford to a stop and safely returned to pit lane, with the race brought under control of the bp pulse Safety Car.
While Courtney cut a positive figure in the Blanchard Racing Team garage, the veteran's Finals hopes took a significant hit. Courtney, who was 159 points from the top 10, is now 230 points away heading into Sunday.
"The thing was chugging along nicely," said the 15-time race winner, who had momentum on his side with a podium in Perth and top five in Darwin.
"As I went into [Turn] 7, it felt like it got a heap of engine braking, which is really unusual with these things.
"Then when I got on the power on the exit, it's like it dropped a cylinder, so I got on the radio and said, 'something's happening, it's losing a cylinder'.
"Then it just exploded, and I tried to put as much oil on the track as I can, so it makes a nice little exciting race for everyone else.
"It's a shame, the Snowy car was going really, really well, we had a great qualifying, great Shootout, and we were in the hunt. We've been on a roll of the car and the car speed with results of late, but it's a bit of dampener."
Courtney was one of three retirements from the race, with James Golding and Jaxon Evans scrubbed out after a multi-car pile-up at Turn 3.
Supercars action resumes on Saturday with Boost Mobile Qualifying at 10:05am AEST, followed by the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout at 12:05pm. The final race of the weekend, Race 22, commences at 3:00pm.
Foxtel/Kayo's Saturday coverage commences at 8:00am AEST, with the Seven Network taking live coverage from 12:00pm. Please check local guides.
