Courtney confident Holden will recommit to HRT

There is a level of uncertainty surrounding HRT at the moment, with Holden assessing its position in the sport (including HRT’s standing as the factory squad), and both Garth Tander and Courtney out of contract.

Courtney, however, has moved to allay fears that Holden may follow Volvo out the V8 Supercars door, suggesting that media speculation is just that and nothing more based on conversations he’s had with Holden’s motorsport manager Simon McNamara.

“Simon’s got it under control, he tells me,” Courtney said after topping yesterday’s second practice session at Barbagallo Raceway.

“I’m not bothered at all. Every three years this rolls around, everyone blows up and say ‘they’re going to pull out, they’re not going to do it’. Every three years for the last 25 years HRT has been here.

“In three years time [the media] will be saying it’s all over again.

“But yeah, it seems like it’s all going to keep rolling on. Ryan and Martine [Walkinshaw] are heavily committed, and massively into this to keep it going.”

Lack of performance could keep JC at HRT

Ironically, it could be a lack of performance that sees Courtney re-sign with HRT.

The 2010 title winner says he arrived at HRT with the specific goal of winning a championship in red. And with that goal still not realised, he’s keen to sign on again at the end of the season.

“I’ve got to sort out this thing I’m steering at the moment before I get excited and do anything else,” he added.

“Six years ago I came here and set a goal, and I’m a long way from achieving that at the moment.

“Ideally I’d love to win a championship for HRT, that’s what I want to do. So if they’ll have me back, and we have a championship-winning car, then I’ll do it.”