...Skaife - "we have long term plans for Courtney"......

retro · 25 Aug 2005, 06:40 (Ref:1390710)

credit to...http:// www.heraldsun.news.com.au..and snipped

Still, Skaife makes no secret of his long-term plan to bring former F1 test driver James Courtney into the reds.

Courtney will partner veteran Jim Richards in the enduros this year and Skaife is also working on a plan to put him into a third HRT satellite car in 2006.

Courtney is leading the Japanese Super GT championship in a factory-backed Toyota Supra and is more likely to continue in the Japanese series next year.

But Courtney would take time to adapt to V8 Supercars and Skaife says Kelly is the right choice as his teammate.

Oaksnaf · 25 Aug 2005, 08:11 (Ref:1390755)

So then its almost secured that one day Courtney will race full time for HRT since it appears he has a long term contract with the team. I wonder whether if he will be any good in a V8 though, of course he is proven in many other categories. But for some that just hasn't been enough to hack it with V8's.

Bathurst will be an interesting indication of what he can do in the toughest of battles. So i look forward to seeing that.

D.R.T. · 25 Aug 2005, 10:26 (Ref:1390841)

I am sure Toyota has a long term plan for Courtney aswell.

Falcadore · 25 Aug 2005, 10:42 (Ref:1390852)

There has been a firm denial from Gow on behalf of Courtney that they have any short or long term V8Supercar plans.

Bathurst can wait. What if Toyota return to Le Mans - plenty of unfinished business there.

Razor · 25 Aug 2005, 10:49 (Ref:1390862)

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I am sure Toyota has a long term plan for Courtney aswell.

Toyota vs Holden, Japan vs Australia, Team Toyota vs Holden Racing Team, who will win the battle for James?

FPV GTHO · 25 Aug 2005, 10:51 (Ref:1390865)

I can see a contract dispute of F1 proportions arising if this continues...

SkaifeHRT · 25 Aug 2005, 11:07 (Ref:1390877)

I've heard that it's more likely that Courtney will continue with Toyota, but HRT seem very keen to get him, as they should be. Still, if James does decide to stay with Toyota, and HRT do run a third car next year, I wondeer who would get the drive.

Mattracer · 25 Aug 2005, 11:13 (Ref:1390885)

I wonder if they would run a 3rd car without Courtney.

**GTRMagic** · 25 Aug 2005, 11:15 (Ref:1390889)

It likely wont be a full program for Mr Courtney... so who will take the seat when he is off in the GT series??

There is another Kelly linked to that seat in absentia... but its not a blood relative of Rod and Todd...

billy bigtime · 25 Aug 2005, 12:01 (Ref:1390922)

What a load of BS.I've got long term plans for Elle McPherson but she doesn't know about it yet

**GTRMagic** · 25 Aug 2005, 12:10 (Ref:1390930)

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy bigtime

What a load of BS.I've got long term plans for Elle McPherson but she doesn't know about it yet

She's a bit too old these days... like Mr Skaife in many respects...

retro · 25 Aug 2005, 12:12 (Ref:1390931)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattracer

I wonder if they would run a 3rd car without Courtney.

............the question has to be asked...what license will HRT use????

**GTRMagic** · 25 Aug 2005, 12:20 (Ref:1390937)

If you believe our learned friends at Auto Action, they think HRT have had discussions about buying the Toll L2 franchise licence slot.....

Grimace · 25 Aug 2005, 12:36 (Ref:1390946)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

She's a bit too old these days... like Mr Skaife in many respects...

Wheels · 25 Aug 2005, 15:06 (Ref:1391062)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

If you believe our learned friends at Auto Action, they think HRT have had discussions about buying the Toll L2 franchise licence slot.....

And that loophole may soon be closed. AVESCO have made no secrets about the fact that they want to run the series with 32 cars only. AVESCO's strategy of buying up franchises as they become available has a bit of a hole in it. If a licence is not available, how can AVESCO buy it? Especially given the way that AVESCO have stated how they will buy them (as they become available).

Or AVESCO could do what they have threatened for a while and actually cancel some licences?????

Or put a definitive 2 car cap on teams/entities ?

Money will talk, bullsh!t will be accepted.

Welcome back to the Superteam Series.

Wheels.

Uncle Cranker · 25 Aug 2005, 21:03 (Ref:1391356)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

If you believe our learned friends at Auto Action, they think HRT have had discussions about buying the Toll L2 franchise licence slot.....

Clearly the $500 million Man (mr Little) will be a bit busy over the next few months, attempting to do to Chris Corrigan, exactly what Corrigan tried to do to the Waterfront.

Doesn't leave much time to go racing.......

SRabbit · 25 Aug 2005, 21:34 (Ref:1391373)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Barton

Toyota vs Holden, Japan vs Australia, Team Toyota vs Holden Racing Team, who will win the battle for James?

someone also said that money will talk - well there wont be a contest - Toyota could buy Holden 4 times over.....

hrt_rulz01 · 26 Aug 2005, 04:23 (Ref:1391487)

there was a rumour (in mnews) that courtney had signed a deal already at HRT for $1 million. wonder where the hell that came from???

spectator22 · 26 Aug 2005, 04:34 (Ref:1391492)

Didnt see any such rumour in MN ($1m), hrt-rulz, you may be getting confused with Auto Fiction (learned?? GTR??). MN broke the 3 car for HRT story last week including Toll franchise being used but said that Courtney would only drive IF he was available, ie not staying with Toyotas GTs in Japan. With latest reports saying Courtney is most likely to go on with Japanese GT, who would fill a third seat if it happened?? Not many real options around.

billy bigtime · 26 Aug 2005, 05:03 (Ref:1391499)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

She's a bit too old these days...

True, but I'm no spring Chicken

lookleft · 26 Aug 2005, 05:24 (Ref:1391507)

What is to stop Holden doing a deal with Toyota allowing Mr. Courtney to sign to drive for HRT at Sandown / Bathurst for x years. One would normally expect a contact to be exclusive but if Toyota have no interest in V8Supercar then they may allow this clause. This would allow HRT to claim Courtney as their own with "plans" for the future while Courtney still drive "full time" in the Toyota GT.

IMHO I see no reason why Courtney would want to come back to the V8's so soon - if there are Japan / European drives out there in "nicer" cars what it is the rush. He runs the risk of the Ambrose dilemma all over again (although Marcos seemingly had less options on the table).

SkaifeHRT · 26 Aug 2005, 05:37 (Ref:1391510)

Actually spectator22, thet rumour about the $1 million deal was in MNews, but they stated that it was only a rumour.

xrystl · 26 Aug 2005, 06:38 (Ref:1391540)

Is the series that Courtney's driving in the same as that which Wayne Gardner tried his hand at before giving racing away altogether ? - if it's the same series/cars it certainly didn't help Gardner on his return driving in the V8 series .
Is all the faith being heaped on Courtney justified ? few have come from other series and done well in the V8s !

peckstar · 26 Aug 2005, 07:40 (Ref:1391558)

yeak pole position at bathurst, isnt very good (ok it was wet)

SkaifeHRT · 26 Aug 2005, 07:57 (Ref:1391570)

Agreed peckstar, Gardner had pole at Bathurst 2000 and led the opening part of the race too.

And yes, it is the same series that Gardner was in, formerly known as the JGTC (Japanese GT Championship), and this year renamed the SuperGT Championship. Any driver who's good enough, given time in the cars, could be successful in V8 Supercars.

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