Courtney not tempted into retirement backflip
James Courtney not tempted into retirement backflip
"We'd like to have been able to talk him out it," says Tim Blanchard
2010 champion announced plans to retire last year
James Courtney will indeed retire at the end of 2025, but it wasn’t without spirited encouragement from Tim Blanchard to go around again.
The 2010 Supercars champion will retire from full-time racing at the end of the season, bringing an end to a tour that began with an “accidental” announcement last year.
Commercially savvy and a star personality, Courtney proved he still has pace with a surprise podium in Perth earlier this season.
It’s understood Courtney received some offers to go around again in 2026, including from Blanchard Racing Team’s eponymous team co-owner.
Speaking to media at The Bend on Friday, Blanchard admitted he was “disappointed” that his veteran star was retiring, but said Courtney was “pretty content with his decision."
It comes after Courtney, when asked by Speedcafe about returning in 2026 with BRT or another team, laid down a “hard no.”
"There's lots of ribbing and encouragement to go around with James,” Blanchard said.
“But I think when all the jokes stop and you ask him seriously, he's pretty content with his decision.”
Courtney joined BRT in 2024, with a plan on completing two final seasons before hanging up the helmet.
In typical Courtney fashion, the door has been left ajar with a smile, notably telling V8 Sleuth in February he was “99.9%” certain he was retiring at season’s end.
The 15-time race winner was keen not to join the likes of Garth Tander (2019), Lee Holdsworth (2021) and Mark Winterbottom (2025) in having the rug pulled from underneath them, instead calling it on his terms.
Blanchard praised his driver for committing to his initial two-year plan, and reiterated he was on a strong pathway with his transition out of racing.
“It's kind of always been his plan right from the start, was to do two years with us and help build the team from where we were and help us with our expansion of two cars, which he's done a fantastic job of,” Blanchard added.
“We’re disappointed he's retiring. We'd like to have been able to talk him out it, but he's very content. The transition to his things outside of racing is going very well. I think he's pretty happy with where he’s at."
