Courtney OK to commit V8s future to HRT

James Courtney says he’ll happily end the speculation surrounding his V8 Supercars future and re-sign with Holden Racing Team (HRT).

Courtney is one of the most high-profile drivers coming out of contract at season’s end and in the ever-changing world of the Supercars series is enduring rather than enjoying and earlier-than-usual silly season.

Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin, his HRT teammate Garth Tander, DJR Team Penske man Scott Pye and Nick Percat of Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport are all without a contract to drive in 2017.

It’s a merry-go-round that Courtney, the 2010 series champion, has seen before and is happy to jump off.

The 35-year-old said he had unfinished business at HRT and was keen to stay on.

“Six years ago I came here and set a goal and I’m a long way away from achieving that,” he said.

“Ideally I’d love to win a championship for HRT. That’s what I want to do.

“If they’ll have me back in a championship-winning car, I’ll do it.”

HRT burst out of the blocks in 2015 with a win and two podiums at the Clipsal 500, but both Tander and Courtney have been unable to podium since.

That’s brought criticism, and this week the team’s very existence has been called into question.

Volvo’s departure from the sport leaves just Holden and Nissan providing manufacturer-based teams, with both yet to commit in 2017.

In the debrief after Phillip Island, Courtney said the team shared “a few hard words” hoping to find the spark to their season.

But for all their faults and uncertainty, Courtney was quick to remind all that their plight wasn’t as bad as others had made out.

“We’re second in the teams championship,” he said.

“Everyone has their little ups and downs.

“We’re both fighters. When we don’t qualify well we get the elbows out and work our way to the front.

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