MONDAY, JUNE 8: James Courtney has confirmed repairs to his damaged Jim Beam Racing FG Falcon will be completed later this week and he will race the car in the fifth event in the V8 Supercar Championship near Darwin from June 19-21.

The FG Falcon was damaged on May 31 when it crashed into a tyre barrier after contact with a Holden Commodore driven by Dale Wood in race two of the previous championship event at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

"It was quite a big hit, but once we got the car back to the workshop we found the damage was not as bad as first thought," said Courtney.

"Everything will be put back together by this Friday (June 12), and the car will be packed into the team's transporter which leaves for Darwin the next day. I will be racing it in the 'Top End' for sure."

Jim Beam Racing Sporting Director Adrian Burgess said Courtney's damaged FG Falcon arrived back at the team's workshop, located north of the Gold Coast, last Wednesday (June 3).

"The car was stripped and put on a jig, and the chassis and suspension points were okay," said Burgess.

"Things that needed replacing included chassis rail extensions, radiator, and panels, plus we gave everything a good clean out because the car picked up a lot of dirt when it went off the track."

Courtney said he hoped to revitalise his championship campaign in the 100km and 200km races at the Hidden Valley track in the Northern Territory after his disappointments in Tasmania, and a series of frustrations in previous events.

The 28-year-old Gold Coast-based driver has qualified in the top 10 for every race in the 2009 championship to date, but has only one podium race result, for finishing second in race two of the Hamilton event in New Zealand in April.

"I've been quick at every track in terms of car speed and lap times, so it's been frustrating my race results haven't been more consistent," said Courtney.

"My car is very competitive, so hopefully things will turn around in Darwin."

Courtney believes the Dick Johnson Racing-developed engines in his Triple Eight Engineering-built Falcon could prove decisive on the 2.9km Hidden Valley track.

"Horsepower is important at Hidden Valley because of the long straight (almost 1km), and DJR's 'in-house' engines are known for producing plenty of top end speed," he said.

Courtney, who finished in the top 10 in two of the three races at Hidden Valley in 2008, has slipped to 20th in this year's championship after scoring only 15 points in Tasmania.

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHS: high-resolution jpeg images of James Courtney available for media/editorial use