News on James Courtney

speedracergirl · 30 Jan 2004, 17:23 (Ref:856641)

Any news on James Courtneys progress since he took the F3 title in Japan. I Had heard he was racing back in OZ this season surely not. I don't know why he hasn't been signed up by an F1 team, he is afterall a damn site better than Justin Wilson.

jminsh · 30 Jan 2004, 17:31 (Ref:856651)

James who!!! never heard of him LOL

speedracergirl · 30 Jan 2004, 17:54 (Ref:856681)

He was runner up in the British F3 race a year ago. The ex Jaguar test driver who crashed at Monza during his F1 test. He also took the F3 title in Japan a couple of months ago.

Jonny Apex · 30 Jan 2004, 17:55 (Ref:856683)

James, I believe, will be racing in FNippon and Japanese GTs this season.

flexible-flyer · 30 Jan 2004, 18:23 (Ref:856715)

i think he ended last season doinf formula nippon and formula 3 at the same time. i last heard formula nippon full time was next.

Kicking-back · 30 Jan 2004, 22:33 (Ref:856965)

Don't know where anyone could get the idea Courtney was better than Justin Wilson.

There's certainly been nothing to suggest it from their careers so far.

Chucky · 30 Jan 2004, 22:41 (Ref:856972)

James will be doing a combined FNippon/JGTC campaign this season.

That little testing shunt in the Jag caused more problems than was let on and definitely cost him the 2002 Brit F3 title.

speedracergirl · 30 Jan 2004, 23:01 (Ref:856989)

I'd heard that also, you would have thought he would have had enough od Japan by now. Still its not that far from Australia, I read some where that he was planned to live in Australia and fly over for the race weekend's.

**gomick** · 30 Jan 2004, 23:57 (Ref:857019)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Don't know where anyone could get the idea Courtney was better than Justin Wilson.

There's certainly been nothing to suggest it from their careers so far.

you dont know there careers then

....

justin is a good driver with a good record - formula palmer audi & f3000 champion....

james won british formula ford, came 4th & 2nd in british formula 3 and won the japanese formula 3 championship....

so i am not saying that james is better than justin - but i wouldnt say that justin is better than james either

speedracergirl · 31 Jan 2004, 01:03 (Ref:857069)

I would say James is far better the more talented driver. He just very unfortunate with his Monza shunt while testing for Jaguar.

jackaroo · 31 Jan 2004, 01:44 (Ref:857102)

I would not of said James ids that great. I remeber him getting his arse kicked all over the place in his early days. Luckily he had a wealthy father to keep paying the bills and sending him to the best teams. I especially remember his sad face when new boy Burti arrived at PSR as his team mate and beat him in F vauxhall in his fist year. It was Justins 2nd season with the best team.

BrettFrancis · 31 Jan 2004, 04:50 (Ref:857205)

When the hell did Courtney do FVauxhall?

I think you've got your James' and your Justins mixed up?

Chucky · 31 Jan 2004, 04:59 (Ref:857208)

I second the motion, Brett.

DavidStHubbins · 31 Jan 2004, 06:08 (Ref:857219)

This thread messes with my mind.

Scott75 · 31 Jan 2004, 06:35 (Ref:857228)

How many times was James World Karting Champion??? The guy has heaps of talent but just hasn't had the right brakes to get to F1. He's still fairly young, (24yrs old I think) so I wouldn't give up hope on him making F1 just yet. Maybe Paul Stoddart will give him a crack at F1 next year, one never knows.

speedracergirl · 31 Jan 2004, 12:29 (Ref:857512)

Well said Scott75!!! Just because he doesn't have a rich daddy backing him doesn't mean he won't make it.Its talent that's needed not cash!!!!

Kicking-back · 31 Jan 2004, 15:25 (Ref:857661)

I don't think we'll ever see James Courtney race in Formula One.

He'll probably do another year in Japan then end up in Australian touring cars.

That shunt at Monza destroyed his career momentum.

DavidStHubbins · 1 Feb 2004, 00:16 (Ref:858345)

Is Alan Gow still paying for him or is he racing free in Japan? I would have thought that the Japan drive would be free for him, they did pay Eddie Irvine and Ralph Firman once! Those crazy Japanese.

overflow · 1 Feb 2004, 05:41 (Ref:858526)

The TOMS team paid for JC to drive for them not Alan Gow....BTW if anyone doubts his ability to drive at the top level I suggest you view the videos of the Macau F3 meeting objectively...!

Gaz · 1 Feb 2004, 09:08 (Ref:858594)

Oh dear, here comes another JC arguement!If he was really good enough, and really had that much 'heaps of talent' he would be sat in a Formula 1 car now, even if he was only testing it!I'm sure Jag must have known how 'talented' he was so why did they let him go?They've just signed Byorn Wirdheim as they're Friday tester so if he was really that good surely, having worked with JC they would have signed him instead!Just my sentiments...can't be bothered dragging over old ground

BrettFrancis · 1 Feb 2004, 12:14 (Ref:858781)

Errr... yeah... because we all know there's absolutely no politics in F1, and that drivers are signed purely on merit.

Gaz · 1 Feb 2004, 13:13 (Ref:858859)

And Byorn Wirdheim isn't!?He isn't the FIA3000 champion!If it had been Minardi or Jordan you would have had a point!Yes Christian Klien is a pay driver at Jag, he is also very talented!Wirdheim isn't there cos of his back pocket!Face it, Courtney worked with Jag, Jag financed his season in Brit F3 with the top team which he DIDNT win (excuses and arguements aside, he DIDNT win)!They dropped him so he ran off to Japan where he won the Japanese championship with a works team against lets face it poor opposition. He races well at Macau, but whoever is in the TOMS seat always goes well at Macau, he hardly followed up that form in Korea and I'm sure if he had been in Europe with TOMS he would have struggled at one of these blue riband races!Face it if Jag thought so highly of him he would be in their seat or testing for another of the top teams!

darcym · 1 Feb 2004, 15:40 (Ref:858992)

I heard from an inside source (not sure how true though) That Jag decided to get rid of Courtney long before the Monza crash, due to a directive from above. Cost cutting including Junior racing must stop. This was a long term plan, look last year Jaguar didn't have a test driver, they sold their F3 team. Courtny was just being looked at by USA as a bill, not an investment. I rate the guy and I'd be interested in seeing him have another fair crack of the whip.

Courtny seems to make the most out of his chances he just needs another (I know its a second chance, but that accident on a young lad was a bad one).

Lets see what happens.....

Gaz · 1 Feb 2004, 16:39 (Ref:859048)

I see what your saying, but Jaguar ARE now paying for a test driver to drive a third car at GP's!Surely if Courtney was that talented, having worked with Jaguar already he would have been first on their list rather than Wirdheim! Cos as far as I know Wirdheim isn't brining with him sponsors and if he is we're not taling absolute megabucks which JC couldnt have raised!(Klien style)

Fan · 1 Feb 2004, 18:38 (Ref:859303)

I think Wirdheim is bringing money.

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