PRESS ROOM

Courtney Climbs to Seventh in Final AGP Race

V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge, Australian Grand Prix Circuit, VIC

16 March 2008

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney has put in a strong finish at the V8 Supercars Manufacturers Challenge today, finishing the third and final race in seventh position.

Courtney had a tough couple of days at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit but improved in the final two races to claim points and finish 13th for the meeting.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport driver started from tenth position on the grid and moved up one position as Mark Winterbottom retired from the race, claiming another as Jamie Whincup also dropped out.

Courtney knuckled down mid-race with constantly improving lap times to catch the group in front, passing Andrew Jones on lap 11. Courtney continued in seventh position to the chequered flag.

SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen battled throughout today’s final race, struggling with car balance from the start.

Van Gisbergen started from 18th on the grid and moved up as far as 14th by lap five. As the race went on, the hot conditions compounded his problems, with brakes and tyres becoming an issue.

The young Kiwi driver slipped back in the closing laps of the race to cross the line in 19 position. He also finished the meeting in 19th position.

The SP Tools Racing and JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcons will travel to New Zealand for round three of the V8 Supercar Championship Series in Hamilton in four weeks time, 18-20 April 2008.

James Courtney, car #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport

“We had a tough first couple of day here but the last two days we have improved.

“In the end we had a couple of positive races and we have come away with a good straight car which we can now concentrate on making faster.

“We struggled with front braking performance in the heat today and the engine temperatures were up so we spent a bit of time looking for cool air. But everyone out there was in the same boat.

“We’ll head back to the SBR workshop and evaluate the car situation; Jimmy Stone didn’t come down for this race as he was concentrating on getting the new car on line. We might squeeze it in before Hamilton otherwise we will have it for Barbagallo.

“Regardless, we will have a good strong car for the next round at Hamilton, the JELD-WEN crew are looking forward to getting back on track.”

Shane van Gisbergen, car #9, SP Tools Racing

“I’m pretty gutted about that race; we struggled all the way through with car balance.

“We ran out of brakes in the heat and we used our best tyres in race two so I spent most of the race just trying to stay on track.

“I was fighting the car all the way, the last 10 laps I was concentrating on bringing it home. It’s probably one of the hardest races I’ve had to do.

“I’m just looking forward to Hamilton now. We’ve got a good break so we can regroup and look at the last two weekends racing and be on it in a few weeks.”

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Courtney Climbs to Seventh in Final AGP Race

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