THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12: Jim Beam Racing recruit James Courtney believes reuniting with his ex-British Formula 3 engineer Adrian Burgess this year will be crucial to his challenge for the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship title.

"Adrian helped me win a lot of races in Britain a few years ago and that's what we want to do again in V8 Supercars," said Courtney.

The 28-year-old, who finished sixth in the 2008 championship, will race an FG Falcon for his new team for the first time in the opening round of this year's series in Adelaide from March 19-22.

Burgess was Courtney's engineer at Carlin Motorsport in 2002 when he finished second in the British Formula 3 Championship, one place ahead of current McLaren Formula One driver Hekki Kovalainen.

Courtney said the opportunity to team up with Burgess again was decisive in his decision to join Jim Beam Racing after driving for Stone Brothers Racing in the V8 Supercar Championship the past three years.

"Adrian knows what I need to get the best out of my car, and one thing we share is we both like to win," said the Gold Coast-based driver.

"I'm grateful for the previous opportunities I've had (in V8 Supercars), but this is an exciting new chapter in my career and it's great to be back working with Adrian."

"When I returned to Australia from overseas my aim was to win races and championships and nothing has changed."

Burgess, from Britain, joined Queensland-based Dick Johnson Racing in mid-2006, and worked with Courtney at Carlin Motorsport between stints with the McLaren and Midland Formula One teams.

In the past three years Courtney's V8 Supercar results include a race win, nine round podium finishes, three of them in the Bathurst 1000, and two pole positions as fastest qualifier.

"I've watched James in V8 Supercars - he's shown glimpses of what I know he's capable of, but this category hasn't seen anywhere near his best," said Burgess.

"In Britain he was as good, if not better than some drivers who went on to Formula One, including guys such as Kovalainen, who through other circumstances was able to stay there and got himself into McLaren."

"James should have won the Formula 3 title in Britain - he led the championship, but then missed five weeks when he was injured in a shunt caused by a mechanical failure at Monza (Italy) in a Formula One test with Jaguar."

"James is a very naturally gifted driver and I know he can get the maximum, plus 10-percent, out of any given situation."

"He is at his best when he's relaxed and has confidence in those around him. If we can pull everything together then I'm confident we can take the best of what he's shown in V8 Supercars and make it happen more often."

Courtney said his past association with Burgess would assist his assimilation into Jim Beam Racing, where his team-mate in 2009 will be Steve Johnson.

"When you change teams it usually takes time to get to know everyone and see how things tick over, but my past with Adrian makes it easier to settle in," said Courtney.

"I've only been around the (Jim Beam Racing) workshop a short time, but I feel very comfortable and everyone has made me feel welcome."

Burgess said his regard for Courtney's ability prompted him to try and persuade him to join the Midland Formula One team in 2005.

"I tried to get James on board at Midland when I was there because I knew he could do the job, but he had decided to keep racing in Japan that year so it wasn't the right path for him at the time," he said.

Although Courtney and Burgess are reuniting in the same team this year, their relationship will be different to 2002. Burgess is Sporting Director at Jim Beam Racing, and said the engineer on Courtney's Falcon will be Scott Sinclair, who had the same role with Will Davison in 2008.

"I won't be 'hands-on' engineering James' car, like before (at Carlin Motorsport), but I'll have input into both of our team's cars and I'll be around whatever is happening," said Burgess.

Said Courtney: "Scott (Sinclair) obviously did a good job with Will (Davison) so I'm keen to build a good understanding between us."

Courtney said he expected to be competitive in the championship opener, the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, based on his performances on the 3.2km street circuit in the past two years.

In 2007 he qualified on pole position in Adelaide and finished second and third in the two races. In 2008 he qualified second, clocked the fastest lap in the first race, but crashed in the second after contact with Craig Lowndes.

"I know I can do quick laps around Adelaide - the races are long and tough, but I like street circuits so it's a good place to have my first race with my new team," said Courtney.

In 2008 Courtney finished 34 of the 38 championship races - of the remaining four races he was twice forced to retire because of mechanical issues, and he crashed twice but was not penalised in either incident.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Mike Porter - Tel: (0417) 311-997. E-mail: mikep@qldnet.com.au

WEBSITE: http://www.jamescourtney.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHS: high-resolution jpeg image of James Courtney and Adrian Burgess available for media/editorial use