Adrian Burgess’s defection from Red Bull Racing to V8 Supercars rivals Holden Racing Team is a defining moment for Ryan Walkinshaw according to driver James Courtney.
The son of HRT founder Tom Walkinshaw has faced plenty of criticism since taking over the team ownership following his father’s death in 2010, including reports he was looking to sell the team earlier this year.
But the capture of Burgess shows Walkinshaw is no pushover and determined to get HRT back to the top of the championship after a lean couple of seasons.
“A lot of people didn’t take Ryan that seriously. Thought he was a party boy and wasn’t going to live up to the family name,” Courtney told AAP.
“He’s definitely shut a lot of his critics up and silenced a lot of people that didn’t give him the time of day. My hat goes off to Ryan for being able to pull it off.”
Burgess was Courtney’s team manager at Dick Johnson Racing during his championship win in 2010 and the 33-year-old was excited about linking up with the Englishman again.
Courtney believes the work done by departing HRT manager Steve Hallam over the past two years will ensure a smooth transition for Burgess.
“We’ve known each other a long time, on championships together, had highs and lows together racing overseas and, for sure, it’s a great appointment for HRT,” he said.
“It definitely strengthens our position in the championship that’s for sure.”
Red Bull Racing reacted angrily to HRT’s capture of Burgess on Monday with team owner Roland Dane telling Burgess he wouldn’t need to see out the remaining six months of his deal with the team.
Defending series champion Jamie Whincup said the development wouldn’t affect the team’s performance on the track and said it was the right call to dismiss Burgess immediately once it was revealed he was heading to HRT.
“You certainly don’t want to have anyone in the team that doesn’t want to be there,” Whincup told AAP.
“If we felt that he wanted to go to another team there’s no way we would have held him back. He can go, no problems at all.”
