Courtney reveals 'surreal' world title throwback
James Courtney returns to world title karting roots
2010 Supercars champ revisits 1995 kart title colours in Ipswich
Courtney to reach 600 Supercars races at Queensland Raceway
James Courtney has returned to his world championship-winning roots ahead of a milestone round in Supercars.
The 2010 Supercars champion is preparing for a landmark 600th championship race start at the upcoming Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440.
Courtney will become just the fourth driver, after Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander and Mark Winterbottom, to reach 600 starts.
The 15-time Supercars race winner has gone back to where it all began, with Courtney saluting his karting world title in Ipswich ahead of this weekend's Australian Kart Championship round.
The Australian Kart Championship has recently produced stars such as Broc Feeney, Oscar Piastri, Kai Allen and Cooper Murray.
On Thursday, Courtney paid tribute to his 1995 triumph by dusting off his suit and helmet from his campaign, and hitting the Ipswich kart track.
In 1995, Courtney defeated future Formula 1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi to win the World Junior Karting Championship.
Future F1 stars Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, and Charles Leclerc also won the title.
Courtney’s path to F1 continued in 1997, when he swept the Formula A competition. The Sydneysider went on to win the British Formula Ford Championship title, before graduating to Formula 3 and sealing a Jaguar F1 test driver seat.
"Pretty surreal moment today… jumped in a kart with the same livery I had when I won my 2nd World Championship 28 years ago,” Courtney posted to social media.
"Even crazier… the helmet and suit still fit! So cool to throw it back to where it all began.”
Courtney chased Supercars after Europe, making his debut in the 2005 enduros with the Holden Racing Team. He replaced Marcos Ambrose at Stone Brothers Racing in 2006, before joining Dick Johnson Racing in 2009.
Courtney rejoined the Walkinshaw stable in 2011, before racing Fords for Tickford Racing and now Blanchard Racing Team.
The 2025 Supercars season resumes at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440. Supercars drivers will contest three races at the August 8-10 event. Tickets are on sale now. International viewers can watch the action on SuperView.
