Fabian Coulthard is relieved that he can return his focus to driving after recently sealing a contract extension at DJR Team Penske.
The re-signing was announced nearly a fortnight ago but, like his first contract with the Ford squad, the term remains undisclosed.
That initial multi-year deal applied ran for two years following his arrival from Brad Jones Racing in 2016.
While managing director Ryan Story told Speedcafe.com that the decision was ‘natural’ for the Shell V-Power Racing team, Coulthard says that he is happy to remove the uncertainty over his future.
“I think it’s just nice not to have to worry about it,” said the 34-year-old on Fox Sports’ Inside Supercars.
“You don’t have that hanging over your head and you can focus on the job at hand.
“To finally put pen to paper and stay with Shell V-Power Racing’s fantastic; they’re a great bunch of guys, they give both Scotty (McLaughlin, team-mate) and I quick cars, and it’s a good time to be part of that team.”
Coulthard revealed that the non-disclosure of contract terms was a directive from Team Penske president Tim Cindric, but described the deal as “long enough.”
“I sat down last time I signed my deal and I got asked the same question,” recounted the New Zealander.
“Tim Cindric was across the table from me and he goes, ‘I’ll answer this one,’ and that was his response, and that’s what we’ve stuck by.”
Coulthard also said that the team’s category-leading form is down to being able to compete at every single circuit, rather than spending sporadic spells near the top of the timesheets in 2016.
“We’ve worked hard last year and to get our cars to a point where they were competitive,” he added.
“We weren’t consistent enough at each and every event, which this year we’ve got, and it’s really stepped up.
“To have the consistency and go into each and every event knowing that you’re going to be there or thereabouts is a pretty satisfying feeling.”
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