'It's time': Emotional Courtney at peace with retirement decision
When he arrived in the Adelaide paddock on Wednesday, James Courtney began to feel it.
This is it.
After 269 rounds and 608 races, the 2010 Supercars champion will roll out for one final crack in the full-time arena at this weekend's bp Adelaide Grand Final.
It brings an end to one of the most storied and accomplished careers in the sport, some 20 years after a fresh-faced Courtney first stepped into a fire-breathing V8 Supercar.
Wins. Podiums. Poles, Injuries. Controversy. Shock team movements. Courtney has seen it all and done it all in the sport, bar Bathurst victory. But such is the want for a Great Race win, that he has already vowed to get it done as a co-driver when he moves to Team 18 next season.
Wednesday began with a special livery reveal in pit lane, and after the hugs, photos and emotions, Courtney sat down with Supercars.com to reflect.
“To be honest, today's the first day it's really hit me that it's all over,” the 15-time race winner told Supercars.com on Wednesday.
“I've always had another race to go to and another event, but there are no more after this one.
“It was pretty emotional this morning when they did the livery reveal. My sisters are coming, my parents, all my kids, there's a huge entourage.
“It’s going to be a pretty special weekend and it's quite fitting really, I've had so much success here at Adelaide and I've always really, really enjoyed it.”
Courtney's retirement announcement was somewhat of an accident. However, in true Courtney style, he took it in his stride and make playful backflip comments along the way, giving little away.
Ultimately, the Sydney-born driver insists his plan was always two years with the Blanchard Racing Team, and that as the end of 2025 approached, retiring was the right call.
"I spoke about it for quite a while. I actually came out with it too early,” he laughed.
“I didn’t mean to tell everyone so early, but the plan was always just to do the two years with Timmy [Blanchard] and BRT and help them develop it, and hopefully leave something better than what I started.
“The results have been getting better and better as the team's sort of maturing more, and I’ve had so many people — including my family — saying, 'should you do another year?’
“But it's time. It’s two decades in the top Australian motorsport category. Given the stress that it puts your family under, it's time to pull that in.”
When asked if he was totally at peace with his decision, he smiled: "I'm not questioning and thinking, 'should have I done another one at all?’
"I'm really content with the decision. I ideally wouldn't have let the cat out the bag as early as what I did, but it's been great."
Courtney also paid tribute to old roommate and long-time Supercars sparring partner Will Davison, who will also end his full-time career in Adelaide.
Where Courtney has been on an 18-month retirement tour of sorts, Davison was abruptly cut loose by Dick Johnson Racing after the Gold Coast round.
“I’ve been able to really enjoy this last 12 months. Each event, I’ve been able say goodbye to each group of fans at each event, which has been really nice," Courtney continued.
“I also feel for Will, who probably didn’t want to finish his career at this point, nor did he get chance opportunity to thank the fans. We lived together in Europe 25 years ago. We were both kids, and now we're finishing up our full-time careers together."
Races 609, 610 and 611 will be Courtney's chance to go out on a high. So, why not bring out Frank the Tank one last time at the circuit he claimed his greatest successes, having won in Adelaide each year between 2014 and 2016?
Add into the mix, a $50,000 purse for the Friday winner, and Courtney has the recipe to leave his rivals wanting.
“If I'm on track with anyone in the last race, I don't have to race with them again full-time. I can pretty much do what I want,” he joked.
"I'll be chasing that 50 grand on the Friday, that's for sure! Doing it around The Finals hype is fun too. But Sunday’s race will be hard. It’ll be emotional, but I just want to have fun. I can’t wait."
