Let's call a spade a spade, Ambrose's replacement is James Courtney (Confirmed)

[ironside]

I hear on very good authority from an impeccable source. James Courtney is Ambrose's replacement and that same source reckons it will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Courtney is rumoured to have signed a two year deal just days before Bathurst I'm told.

Must have made his weekend at Indy as HRT's guest a little uncomfortable?

I hear they found out just before the QLD event....

Oh well, all's fair in love and war and V8 racing as they say....

Congrats to James and good luck for next season (if it's all true ofcourse?)

[Falcadore]

Mark Skaife specifically stated at Indy he believed Courtney would drive for HRT at the enduros next year. Skaife was given the perfect opportunity to rain on SBR's parade, but either a) he chose not to or b) Courtney can keep a secret (or lie to Skaife) better than a newspaper can or c) the rumour does not have legs.

Maybe there's a d)...

[Average Punter]

There is!

d) Mr Moy is flogging a dead horse...

[D.R.T.]

Lets hope that it is untrue and Mr Courtney continues his international racing career.

[Aarrgh8]

You can rule out (d) - sorry, Michael.

[Raglanparade]

Courtney will be in the V8's next season.

[Guest]

Myabe Hotdogs will have the answer to this one on the Uplate Gameshow!

[williamsf1]

yeah a V8 supra maybe

[ironside]

Courtney has no contract for the enduros with HRT next year, so (not having heard Skaife's remarks), I'd find it difficult to believe.

Skaife may have simply been playing the game and said that he'd like Courtney to race for them in the enduros next year.

I can assure you that he knows about the Courtney signing.

Time will tell if the rumour is correct.

Whilst some are fast to dimsiss it and scoff at Moy's prediction (based on some pretty solid inside info I'm told), few have offered a sensible and realistic alternative to fill the vacant SBR seat......

[Falcadore]

Skaife said he expected Courtney to dribe for him and had an informal arrangement. Why does Skaife have to publicly keep SBRs secrets? What obligation does he have to cover for Courtney in such a manner when the direct question was put to him at the press conference?

[Spunky]

There are other drivers I would of prefered to of seen get this seat, but Ironside is correct here.

[Raglanparade]

Now... if this proves to be true... would it be enough to send Ingall to 888 with Lowndes ???

Remember, Ford pay Ingall's wage, not SBR, as a result, Ingall would be allowed to pick any remaining Ford seat.

It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that if Courtney were signed for SBR, Ingall may move to the clearly faster Ford team that is 888. It seems that SBR have lost their way slightly in the latter half of this year, and we all know that 888 is backed by Prodrive.

SBR could move to a fresh for 2006 Line-up, with Courtney in the #4 car, and either Canto/Jason Richards/Whincup in the #9 car.

[Conrod Kieron]

Was Skaife asked about Courtney Falc? if so and he knows Cortney is in an SBR seat, i'd suggest he was put in an akward spot, it wouldn't look too good to say he knew Courtney was driving an SBR car hot of the Bathurst/Sandown drive and with him as guest in the red tent.

Jason, 888 are backed by 888 Engineering, Prodrive mess about with FPR

[HDTVKSS]

[QUOTE=jasonhill9884] and we all know that 888 is backed by Prodrive.
QUOTE]

close.... 888 is backed by 888. FPR is prodrive....

[spectator22]

MN today says NO DEAL on Courtney, yet. Quotes Courtneys manager Gow who says 2 options in Japan, 2 in Australia, no decision yet.

[billy bigtime]

I believe Dave Moy(ironside) is correct.

[KE30MAN]

James should persue his international aspirations. He has more potential than Briscoe in my opinion.

[retro]

Originally Posted by Conrod Kieron

Was Skaife asked about Courtney Falc? if so and he knows Cortney is in an SBR seat, i'd suggest he was put in an akward spot, it wouldn't look too good to say he knew Courtney was driving an SBR car hot of the Bathurst/Sandown drive and with him as guest in the red tent.

Jason, 888 are backed by 888 Engineering, Prodrive mess about with FPR

spud.. he didn't look like he was in an akward spot... he was asked about Courtney for next year and he said he thought he was going to race in Japan and do the Enduro's with HRT. Skaife went on to say he didn't have a contract just a verball agreement but was *waiting on confirmation*

Reading between the lines Courtney has told Skaife he has decisions to make.

falc.. did you get the Lowndes comment on the empty seat...Lowndes saying we have made the first decision (unloading Ellery) and we expect to make another decision soon (on the replacement).
The way it came out it wasn't what Ellery would have liked.

[RedNine Racing]

Why Courtney?.surely there are better drivers out there that are better than him, i thought SBR wanted an experinced driver?.ok Courtney is an experinced driver which 2 Eudros under his belt,wow, that great experince isnt it.

[Raglanparade]

2 Enduros ?? yes

But i still think that Courtney would be quicker then Youlden, Luff, or Macrow if he was given the seat.

Could there be a Ford v Holden action for Mr Courtney's services if he returns home ???

Realistically, if he has two options, it would be HRT on the red side, and SBR on the blue side. Would HRT buy a Longhurst, Tratt, RNR franchise and run a third team car for Mr Courtney ??

Or would they farm out Todd Kelly to Tasman, with either J Richards or Whincup going to SBR ??

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by jasonhill9884

Realistically, if he has two options, it would be HRT on the red side, and SBR on the blue side. Would HRT buy a Longhurst, Tratt, RNR franchise and run a third team car for Mr Courtney ??

Unlikely to be Longhurst, he will be in Fords, RNR & Tratt might lease a franchise to "Tom's Teams" but how AVE$$CO view it will be interesting.....

Originally Posted by jasonhill9884

Or would they farm out Todd Kelly to Tasman, with either J Richards or Whincup going to SBR ??

I'd reckon Todd would slide on over to Daddy & Little brother if he was to be pushed anywhere.
My money is still on Mr Potato Head to be with his Daddy at Tasman.



Now what is it about Holden & daddies, Morris, Kelly, Weel, Murphy, Dumbrell.


Funny that Garry Rogers doesn't have a son.....

I just have one thing to say.



" Who's Your Daddy "

[aussie_f3]

Just spoke to my daddy and he told me that if he had the money for a race team he would be the one driving not me!!!!!!

[ironside]

Originally Posted by spectator22

MN today says NO DEAL on Courtney, yet. Quotes Courtneys manager Gow who says 2 options in Japan, 2 in Australia, no decision yet.

Gow also said that our V8's were dinosaurs and would be dead by the year 2000.

So he's hardly an impeccable source of information.

As Courtney's manager he is compelled to do what's right for James and the team he has signed to and as such it might simply not be either's desire to make an announcement just yet.

Courtney's Japanese drives might be 'options', but there's no signed contract as yet.

I'd suggest that Gow and SBR need to keep everyone guessing and if Gow said that Courtney had no options in Japan then it certainly limits speculation considerably on what he'd be doing next season.

I also think that the '2 options in Australia' is a big smokescreen.

He'll be in an SBR car next season, mark my words...

[craig1]

Why would you ask Skaife who would be driving for HRT next year?

If you want a correct answer you'd ask the team owner, wouldn't you?

[spectator22]

The key word Ironside (understand you may not have read MN) is YET. That is a big hint I think that Courtney is the likely option. Unlike here on the forum where were all race tragics having a chat, proffesional mags like MN have to be sure before they say so if they are to have credibility (MN appears to have its facts right most of the time IMO). If you want to be pedantic, theres never a DEAL DONE until contracts actually signed, which may be as late as the day before an announcement.