Photo: SBR

Courtney debuts new Falcon at Barbagallo

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JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney will debut SBR’s new BF Ford Falcon at round four of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this weekend at Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia.
Work on the new chassis was stepped up following Courtney’s heavy crash at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, with the final pieces put into place last week upon the SBR crew’s return from New Zealand.

A 20-lap shakedown of the new car at Queensland Raceway recently went smoothly, with Courtney extremely positive about the number-four BF Falcon.

Courtney has shown good speed at the 2.42km West Australian circuit in his two previous starts at the venue but engine and mechanical failures have put paid to good results.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport driver is looking to continue his current form following his third place podium finish at the Hamilton 400 three weeks ago.

Team-mate, SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen is back in Australia fresh from a break with family and friends in his home town of Manukau, New Zealand.

Van Gisbergen will visit Barbagallo Raceway for the first time this weekend and is looking to learn from Courtney who was in a similar situation just two years ago.

The SP Tools Racing driver kept his eye in over the break, entering a Formula Vee endurance event at Manfield. While he had some fun and was in contention before mechanical failure cut his race short, the young Kiwi driver is keener than ever to get back into the SP Tools Racing Falcon and continue his V8 Supercar learning curve.

James Courtney is in a positive mood about the new Falcon: “The shakedown on the JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon last week went really well. We had absolutely no dramas.

“The track condition was pretty dirty but the performance was definitely there.

“We’ve had good speed but bad luck at Barbagallo the last couple of years but we are definitely in a position to continue with the podium finishes.

“We have 11 rounds to catch the guys at the front of the Championship so we need podiums and every point from here on.”

Shane van Gisbergen also was upbeat about the coming wekend: “Barbagallo is another new circuit for me so I will be putting my head down and learning what I can from the data and from James.

“SBR has had quick cars over in Perth in the last few years so I’m looking forward to getting onto the track and getting up to speed.

“I’ve had a great break in New Zealand since Hamilton. I competed in a Formula Vee race at Manfield and spent some time with family and friends. Now I am keener than ever to get back in the SP Tools Racing Falcon.”