Courtney weighs in on Stanaway/Grove split
James Courtney says Richie Stanaway needed a longer deal
Stanaway and Penrite Racing will part ways at the end of 2024
New Zealander yet to lock in 2025 racing plans
James Courtney believes a two-year deal would have helped Richie Stanaway deliver results to his potential at Penrite Racing.
Stanaway and Penrite Racing will part ways at the end of the season, with the Kiwi yet to secure 2025 plans.
The 32-year-old had signed a one-year deal with the Grove team, with the option to extend. However, the team ultimately decided not to renew Stanaway’s contract.
It's the first time Stanaway has raced on one-year deals; he lasted one season in a fourth Tickford Racing entry in 2018, then shifted to Garry Rogers Motorsport for 2019, only to retire from racing at the end of the year.
“I don't think anyone can deny his talent, like internationally he has been amazing,” said Courtney on Supercars' Drivers Only podcast.
“I think the tough thing for Richie is when he came to Tickford, I think he got screwed over there with that fourth car thing.
“Then he went to the GRM thing and GRM was sort of closing up and it was just a real shit show for him.
“So he has had two goes at it when it has been a half-arsed effort, so it hasn't left a good taste in his mouth, either of those times.”
Stanaway made a triumphant return in a 2022 Bathurst wildcard, paving the way to a Triple Eight co-drive with Shane van Gisbergen that led to an emotional Bathurst victory.
He began his comeback season with fourth at the Thrifty Bathurst 500, but through seven rounds, is behind teammate Matt Payne in the race (10-5) and qualifying (15-1) head-to-heads).
Notably, Stanaway has been unable to extract one-lap speed, with the New Zealander's 14.31 average ranked 19th in the field. Regardless, Payne expects Stanaway to respond with strong form in the final five rounds.
Courtney believes Stanaway was already under pressure to perform given the one-year deal, saying: “Coming in with [Penrite Racing] and with it only being a one-year deal, there's so much pressure.
“After what he has done in his junior career and how his other two Supercars drives have gone… I think you would have seen the best of him if he had a longer contract – just say if it was two years instead of one year.
“As you guys know, ‘Okay it's a one-year deal' but three months into the first year you're already thinking ahead and trying to plan for the future and trying to do another deal.
“If the team isn't interested and not going to do that deal, there's so much pressure and then there's drama within the team if he's wanting to stay and they're not wanting him to stay and it just snowballs.”
The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint on August 16-18. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. Highlights will be shown on the Seven Network and 7plus. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.
