The Symmons Plains round showed how motor racing can produce surprising
outcomes.

I scored only 88 championship points in the JELD-WEN Ford Falcon, which
was my second lowest individual tally from the 13 V8 Supercar rounds
held so far this year.

Yet somehow I managed to improve my championship position - from seventh
to sixth. That's not something you expect when you have a low
points-scoring round.

The reason I jumped a position in Tasmania is that Steven Richards (Ford
Performance Racing) scored 36 points, and slipped from fifth to seventh,
while Will Davison (Jim Beam Falcon) moved up from sixth to fifth.

Despite my results in Tasmania, I'm going into the final round at Oran
Park in Sydney (December 5-7) with a shot at finishing fifth in the
championship.

Will currently holds fifth position on 2,375 points, I'm next on 2,224,
closely followed by Steven on 2,214, and Rick Kelly (HSV Dealer Team) on
2,194.

At Oran Park the four of us will be battling for fifth to eighth
positions in the championship, so there is plenty of incentive for all
of us to do well.

Good results could lift me into fifth place, which is what I'm hoping
for, but a poor round could relegate me back to eighth.

I'm feeling reasonably confident about Oran Park. I finished third there
in 2006, which was the first of the nine podium results I've had in
championship rounds since joining Stone Brothers Racing.

A notable aspect of the Oran Park round is it will be the final
appearance by V8 Supercars on the track before it closes.

I grew up in nearby Penrith, and I first went to Oran Park aged six in
1986 to watch my father (Jim Courtney) race karts. Also racing karts
that day was Russell Ingall, who would many years later become my SBR
team-mate (in 2006-07).

I drove karts regularly at Oran Park from the age of eight until I was
14, before going to Europe to live and race.

The Symmons Plains V8 Supercar round started quite well for me. I was
seventh in practice, and then qualified sixth.

However, the first race ended quickly for me. The steering on my Falcon
was damaged after contact with other cars in the first couple of laps
and I had to stop.

In the second race I finished 17th, after a problem during my compulsory
pit-stop. I had a much better run in the third and final race and 10th
place wasn't so bad considering where I started.

Overall it was one of those rounds where I seemed to be playing 'catch
up' after the first race. The frustrating thing was my car had good
speed, as shown by clocking the second fastest lap in race three.

As always, the Tasmanian fans were out in force, despite the cool
weather, which included some rain on Saturday.

The 'local' Ford and Holden supporters are just as passionate as you
will find anywhere, and they appreciate our annual visit to Symmons
Plains.

This Saturday SBR will hold a huge merchandise sale at their
headquarters at 20 Binary Street, at Yatala in Queensland.

The sale runs from 9am to 4pm. There will be plenty of discounted items
in the JC and SBR team (JELD-WEN and SP Tools) merchandise ranges.

Various items on sale are ideal for Christmas presents, or as gift for
any other occasion.

I will be attending the sale, along with my SBR team-mate Shane Van
Gisbergen. There will be autograph sessions, and our V8 Supercars will
also be on display.

Those attending the sale will have a chance to win a ride in the SBR 3UP
Ride Car in a raffle, along with other prizes including Navman GPS units
and team memorabilia.

If you can't make it to the sale, the merchandise will also be available
at Oran Park, and it can also be purchased elsewhere on my website
(www.jamescourtney.com.au) and on the SBR website
(www.stonebrothersracing.com.au)

Keep smiling.

JC