Tickford Racing has confirmed the departure of James Courtney at the conclusion of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
Courtney said via the Instagram post which formed the announcement, “thanks to Tickford Racing for providing the opportunity to race and create some lifelong friendships.
“It’s a real family feel and was great to have the unwavering support of the Tickford fans and members, plus the entire crew.”
Team Principal Tim Edwards, who is also leaving the Campbellfield-based at season’s end, remarked, “we are grateful for JC stepping into the team to drive, he showcased his determination to compete at the front whilst keeping his sense of humour in what can be a brutal and unpredictable sport.
“We wish him all the best with his future endeavours, where we’ll look to take it up to him and kick his ass on the track in 2024!”
BRT is doubling its effort to two full-time entries while Tickford slims back from four to two, with Cam Waters and Thomas Randle expected to stay on but their ongoing tenures not yet confirmed.
Courtney was set to join Tickford, in its Ford Performance Racing days, in the year after winning the title with Dick Johnson Racing but instead ended up at the Walkinshaw Holden Racing Team.
He would eventually make his way to the Ford squad after a brief period at Tekno Autosports during its early days as Team Sydney, when Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton essentially leased the entry of the 23Red Racing team which went under during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That kept Courtney on the grid and Tickford, which had begun running the 23Red car the year before, as a four-pronged operation.
The Western Sydney-born driver signed on as a Tickford driver for 2021 and remained there even when the Boost Mobile backing moved from that team to Erebus Motorsport.
The 2023 season continues this weekend at, coincidentally, the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
