PRESS ROOM

Courtney Bounces Back in V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge

V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge, Australian Grand Prix Circuit, VIC

15 March 2008

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney has bounced back after a tough day yesterday to finish 14th in race two of the V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge.

Courtney started today’s 15-lap race from 20th on the Ford versus Holden grid and entered an early battle for position with Fabian Coulthard.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport driver moved into 18th place before the safety car was deployed for Paul Dumbrell’s incident on lap eight.

In 15th position when the race resumed four laps later, Courtney took advantage of the restart, moving into 14th position, where he stayed until the chequered flag.

Courtney’s team-mate, SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen, was in the thick of the action early, starting race two from grid position 12.

Van Gisbergen made a big save on the opening lap as the SP Tools Racing Falcon ventured onto the grass at turn 12, and was lucky to escape damage at turn 15 as he diced with Shane Price.

The SP Tools Racing driver settled after a frantic first lap, chipping away to move from 22nd to 17th position.

The young SBR driver looked set to hold position to the finish line, only to loose four positions on the final lap as he was swamped by a group of cars. The SP Tools Racing Falcon crossed the line in 21st position.

Courtney and van Gisbergen will take to the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit for the third and final race of the V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge at 1:10pm tomorrow.

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“We had a good clean run today. We just tried to stay out of trouble.

“I didn’t try to pass anyone for the first few laps; I just waited for everything to calm down and then slowly picked them off.

“The JELD-WEN Falcon wasn’t the best it can be. We still have a bit of work to do to get back on top. But I felt confident with the car today and I am sure that we can get a good package together for tomorrow’s final race.”

Shane van Gisbergen, car #9, SP Tools Racing

“We struggled early in the race to find a balance on the roll bars with the SP Tools Falcon.

“I made a mistake on the first lap and ran on the grass; our good starting position went out the window.

“I tried to get in a rhythm after that but we were fighting at the back and we were never going to set the world on fire back there.

“I tried to make a few passing moves and we would pull something off and the next corner it would come unstuck. We were going backwards more than we were going forwards.”

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Courtney Bounces Back in V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge

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