Courtney reflects on journey to 500 races

James Courtney has opened up on the highs and lows of his career ahead of his 500th Supercars race start.

The Tickford Racing driver will become the ninth driver in ATCC/Supercars history to reach the milestone.

The 2010 series champion will record race start No. 500 in the first race of the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400.

The Sydney-born driver emerged as one of Australia’s leading Formula 1 hopefuls in the early 2000s.

After winning two karting world titles, and the 2000 British Formula Ford championship, Courtney secured a test driver role with Jaguar F1.

In 2002, Courtney suffered a major crash in F1 testing at Monza that left a physical impact on the then 22-year-old, which prompted a shift to racing in Japan.

He moved back to Australia after winning the 2003 Japanese F3 championship, commuting back and forth to Japan for two years while racing SuperGT.

In a full-circle moment, Courtney will reach his 500-race milestone when Supercars features at Albert Park.

"It’s funny as growing up I wasn’t interested in Supercars at all really," Courtney told Supercars.com.

"I was focused and driven on F1, that's all I wanted to do until I got there and experienced it and realised what it was like.

Courtney celebrates his 2010 title

"When I came back here and started doing Supercars, I questioned why I wasted so much time trying to pursue F1 and why didn't come back here earlier.

"Being in Formula One and driving those cars is amazing, I’ll never forget it, to want to do it for so long and then be able to tick that off is fantastic.

"But I've never had as much fun as what I have racing Supercars.

"We race at some amazing circuits, some of our events are world-class, like Adelaide, is a phenomenal event and Bathurst is iconic."

Courtney made his debut with the Holden Racing Team at the 2005 Sandown 500, before replacing Marcos Ambrose at Stone Brothers Racing in 2006.

He has recorded 10 poles and 15 wins throughout his career and clinched the 2010 championship at Sydney Olympic Park.

The 41-year-old sits 12th on Supercars’ all-time list with 61 podium finishes, his last coming in Sydney last November.

Now in his 17th full-time season, Courtney says his extensive career has afforded him much more than only on-track memories.

"There have been some amazing experiences through that whole time," Courtney said.

"It’s not only on track results but also people that I've met and experiences that have happened off the track.

Courtney on track in Tasmania in March

"Two things that have stood out for me massively throughout my whole career.

"One was to get a win with Jack Perkins [at Surfers Paradise] was probably one of the most special moments in my career.

"Jack's dad, Larry [Perkins] gave me $5000 when I was a 15-year-old go-kart racer, leaving to go to Europe.

"He just pretty much said, 'I know how hard it's going to be, and every little bit helps'.

"So victory with Jack was pretty emotional because we are pretty good mates.

"The other one would be Saturday race Homebush with DJR.

"Everyone remembers the big crash and to see the passion, and how much everyone on the car wanted that victory as much as me.

"As a team to get the car repaired and out to do the lap, which ultimately made the Sunday and winning the championship a lot easier, they are probably two things that stood out for me in that whole time.

"There have been some other amazing moments, going three years in a row Clipsal was fantastic.

"For me, those personal things are so much more than winning the race, but the people that you've met, and those experiences are probably something that I'll always hold pretty close to my heart."

Courtney scored his first podium for Tickford in Darwin in 2020

Courtney holds the title of the oldest Supercars driver on the grid; he is 20 years older than the youngest driver and Tickford teammate Jake Kostecki.

He is 12th in the 2022 standings heading to Albert Park.

As for retirement, Courtney says his focus is firmly on racing for many years to come.

"I'm still as passionate about everything as what the young guys are like," Courtney said.

"Yesterday, we had our team debrief, and I was pretty passionate about what we need to do as a team.

"As I came out of that meeting, I showed that I'm not relaxing, I'm not thinking of the end, I'm still as driven as passionate and loving it as much as I did back then.

Courtney claimed the 2010 title with Dick Johnson Racing

"I think that's a big part of why it's so nice to make it to these 500 races.

"There's nothing that gives me a rush like sitting on the grid.

"Waiting for the green flag, the adrenaline rush at that moment is phenomenal.

"That opening lap is something that it's hard to explain, the launch, the opening lap dual and battle.

"To pull up in the garage and see the elation on everyone's faces in the garage after a good result is something that you can't replace."

Supercars will contest four 100km-long races, with the first to be held on Friday April 8.