Former V8 Supercars drivers’ champion James Courtney will miss next month’s season finale in Sydney following a shocking crash at Phillip Island last weekend.

The Holden Racing Team (HRT) star was left with a fractured tibia and a quadriceps tear in his right leg after his Commodore was hit hard during the opening race at Phillip Island last Saturday.

Alex Premat’s out-of-control GRM Commodore hit the driver’s side of Courtney’s car during the race, with the 2010 V8s champion having to be assisted out of his stricken vehicle by the French driver.

While Courtney was initially cleared of serious injury, he underwent further scans following his return to the Gold Coast on Sunday which discovered the break.

“The scan showed a fracture to my tibia, and a tear in my quad muscle,” Courtney said.

“It’s quite painful but I’m doing alright and it’s good to know what the damage is.”

Courtney will now be on crutches for six weeks, and should be fit to resume racing in next year’s championship, but he’ll sit out the 2013 finale at Sydney’s Olympic Park on December 6-7.

“Unfortunately I won’t be racing at the Sydney 500, it’s my hometown race and always exciting,” the Penrith product said.

“Being a racer I would be out there right now if I could but it’s better to get the recovery process started so I come back firing on all eight cylinders next season.”

Former Bathurst winner Nick Percat will fill in for Courtney at the Sydney 500.