What happened to James Courtney?

Daisy · 19 Oct 2004, 22:02 (Ref:1128845)

Could somebody tell me what happened to James Courtney. Had a promising carreer in front of him after succeses in F3, I thought he would do Formula Nippon this year, but he runned out of money and that's the last thing I heard of him??

1200Datto27 · 19 Oct 2004, 22:54 (Ref:1128901)

He got shafted by Niki Lauda at Jaguar, who blamed him for the crash at Imola (suspension failure, nothing to do with James or his driving, same sort of thing that Schumi suffered in testing there recently) and his subsequent failure to win the F3 championship that year, even though he was recovering from a major concussion sustained in the crash.

Kicking-back · 19 Oct 2004, 23:05 (Ref:1128910)

Since then he's raced Japanese F3, and may well have done Japanese GTs this year.

Solid driver, not top drawer, in my opinion.

**bella** · 19 Oct 2004, 23:19 (Ref:1128919)

right, lovely bit of not actually answering the question by 1200datto27 and digging up some unwanted dirt there.

back to the question, does anyone have the results from japanese gt?

i actually think he was very good, at least a doornbos or someone like that who's highly rated by f1 teams.

Kicking-back · 19 Oct 2004, 23:33 (Ref:1128928)

So far this year, 11th, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th.

Lies 7th in the championship, with two rounds to go.

Driving a Toyota Supra for the TOM'S team.

For British fans - Richard Lyons is 2nd in the championship, just a point off the lead.

1200Datto27 · 19 Oct 2004, 23:39 (Ref:1128930)

I did answer to a point, I just got called away to a dirty nappy

He is racing in the Japanese GT class this year, and usually does very well in the race, until he has to change drivers and then they go backwards in the standings.

BSchneiderFan · 19 Oct 2004, 23:52 (Ref:1128941)

So Lyons, like Firman, has a shot at winning FNippon and the JGTC in one year?

Teretonga · 20 Oct 2004, 03:54 (Ref:1129003)

Courtney won the Japanese F3 title in 2003 by winning more than half the races for the toms team and had a contract for thee GT races. he had a F Nippon drive slip through his fingers but is hopeful of one next year and wants to get back into single seaters- he's basically under employed.

**bella** · 20 Oct 2004, 12:27 (Ref:1129394)

a question while we're talking about japanese racing - is there still the levels of funding there that there was in the 90s when all the f1 drivers had been in japan at one point of another, or is it more like the uk in that drivers have to be funded, not teams?

Fan · 20 Oct 2004, 12:46 (Ref:1129410)

Quote:

Originally posted by bella
a question while we're talking about japanese racing - is there still the levels of funding there that there was in the 90s when all the f1 drivers had been in japan at one point of another, or is it more like the uk in that drivers have to be funded, not teams?

In a word, no. Ralf Schumacher came along with bags of money which made the Japanese think that every European driver could do the same. Added to Senna being killed ( a huge hero in Japan) mean't that interest in motorsport took a did. The economy struggled as well so it all took a bit of a dive. Free drives are still available, just not as many...

Tweed · 20 Oct 2004, 19:39 (Ref:1129886)

I think the Monza crash ruined his career, he shouldn't be tooling around ( relatively speaking ) now in Japanese GTs, especially as his BF3 team-mate Lotterer is up there in Nippon doing well.

I'm sure the GT drivers can still make reasonable money there, also some of the established Nippon drivers. De Oliviera's meant to have absolutely no money and he had the F3 drive, so it must be easier than in the UK.

Alfonso de Orleans · 20 Oct 2004, 22:36 (Ref:1130120)

Quote:

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
So Lyons, like Firman, has a shot at winning FNippon and the JGTC in one year?

Like Pedro de la Rosa as well before going to F1.

strider · 20 Oct 2004, 23:11 (Ref:1130153)

Here's a list of All-Japan F3 Championship winners for the past twelve seasons. All but two were brought across from Europe and there are some interesting names in the mix.

2003 - James COURTNEY
2002 - Takashi KOGURE
2001 - Benoit TRELUYER
2000 - Sebastien PHILIPPE
1999 - Darren MANNING
1998 - Peter DUMBRECK
1997 - Tom CORONEL
1996 - Juichi WAKISAKA
1995 - Pedro de la ROSA
1994 - Michael KRUMM
1993 - Tom KRISTENSEN
1992 - Anthony REID

climb · 21 Oct 2004, 06:40 (Ref:1130301)

.. just hope gaz will not get aware of this new courtney thread...

sonic · 21 Oct 2004, 12:40 (Ref:1130561)

Its amazing how many peoples careers that Jag disaster ended isn't it? on all sides.

anyway

Courtney could get a second chance with this new Midland F1 outfit.

trevor carlin rates him.

I think he's very good, but seems to lack a bit of commitment ultimately, especially when the going gets tough.

bingman · 21 Oct 2004, 14:47 (Ref:1130752)

last time i saw him he looked like he put on a fair bit of weight.... japan is fun

aussie_f3 · 21 Oct 2004, 20:22 (Ref:1131082)

Quote:

Originally posted by bingman
last time i saw him he looked like he put on a fair bit of weight.... japan is fun

How long ago was that!!..I saw him last Saturday and he is fitter than he has ever been.

aussie_f3 · 21 Oct 2004, 20:27 (Ref:1131094)

Quote:

Originally posted by sonic
.....I think he's very good, but seems to lack a bit of commitment ultimately, especially when the going gets tough.

What a load of rot!! There is no more commited driver around than James Courtney - as for the going getting tough - lack of money has been the toughest thing he has had to contend with and if you know the answer to that problem there are hundreds of other hopefuls out there who would like to know what it is.

Gaz · 21 Oct 2004, 20:40 (Ref:1131115)

Well I've had my battles over Mr Courtney in my time but I agree the kid is talented and should be given a chance at least in F1.

Perhaps Mr Carlin taking over the Midlands F1 team could be James' golden ticket? I see he got a mention in the article in this weeks autosport. Perhaps a Davidson, Courtney line up in 2006?

Tweed · 22 Oct 2004, 12:51 (Ref:1131899)

Yep, sooner Courtney over someone like Monteiro.

The B.A.R. · 25 Oct 2004, 16:42 (Ref:1135360)

Why do you say that.
Monteiro has had a good year at Carlin.

I think they are both quick drivers

Kicking-back · 25 Oct 2004, 20:15 (Ref:1135596)

Monteiro is certainly rated highly by Trevor Carlin, as is Courtney.

Can't people praise a driver without taking a swipe at another one?

Extra Rib · 26 Oct 2004, 13:05 (Ref:1136451)

Like Aussie_f3 I'm shocked by the no commitment jibe. Having worked with James for a couple of years I feel I am qualified enough to say that he's worked ****** hard to get where he is. Sadly he left Europe to go to Japan which hasn't helped his bid for an F1 drive but then at least he continues to race rather than give up

Kicking-back · 26 Oct 2004, 14:19 (Ref:1136588)

The thing is only 20 drivers can be in F1 at a time.

Far more than that are "working ****ing hard" as you put it.

There will always be people who lose out.

Extra Rib · 26 Oct 2004, 14:29 (Ref:1136606)

Unfortunately the ones "missing out" are usually the ones without rich daddies

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