Newly-crowned V8 Supercars champion James Courtney has been announced as the Holden Racing Team’s high-profile signing in a three-year deal believed to be worth $3.6 million, confirming that the Sydney-born driver will leave the Dick Johnson Racing stable, with whom he has had a sometimes fractious relationship during his championship-winning year. Part of the motivation behind Courtney’s switch from the ‘Blue Oval’ to the TOLL-backed HRT outfit was speculation that DJR was set for a change of ownership, but the deal fell through when shareholder Charle Schwerkolt sold is stake in the outfit last week. |
![]() [Image via Triple M] |
The deal sees a Holden car continue with having the #1 on the door despite having not taken a Drivers’ Championship since 2008. Last year, 2009 champion Jamie Whincup was the one to carry the mantle when Team Vodafone made its switch from Ford to Holden after losing factory support from Ford.
Courtney replaces another former DJR driver, Will Davison, who suffered a dramatic fall from grace in his second season with HRT after being a strong championship contender in 2009.
Richard Bailey
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