MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: James Courtney believes fuel economy and Phillip Island's variable September weather will be crucial factors in his bid this week for a breakthrough first V8 Supercar Championship endurance race win.

Courtney will drive a Jim Beam Racing Falcon with Steve Johnson in the ninth event of the championship at Phillip Island from September 11-13, and in the following Bathurst 1000 endurance race from October 8-11.

"Phillip Island is our first endurance race since the switch to E85 (ethanol blend) fuel this year, so it's a challenge for everyone to calculate how many laps they can get from a full tank," he said.

"The E85 fuel consumption is greater than what we previously used, so whoever can make their cars run the longest could have an advantage because they can be more flexible with strategy."

"However, all the planning when to make pit stops will go out the window if it rains, which is what happened toward the end of last year's (2008) race."

"The weather is unpredictable at Phillip Island at this time of year, and if it's wet all you can do is try to adapt and get onto whatever tyres best suit the track as conditions change."

Courtney has two championship race wins, at Queensland Raceway in 2008 and in Townsville this year, but is without an endurance victory in the series.

"I've had three podiums at Bathurst, but I think this year is my best chance of winning an endurance race in terms of the car, team, and driver package," said the 29-year-old.

"We should be competitive - I've won a race and had three second places this season, Steve (Johnson) has a pole position and podium finishes, and right now we are both in the top 10 in the championship."

"Importantly, we are both competing regularly in the championship, and since I came into the series fulltime (2006) no team with part-time drivers has won an endurance race."

Courtney's best V8 Supercar endurance results to date were finishing second at Bathurst in 2007, and third at the Mount Panorama track in 2006 and 2008, all when driving for Stone Brothers Racing.

He was sixth in the 500km endurance race on the 4.5km Phillip Island circuit in 2008, while Johnson was third with former Jim Beam Racing team-mate Will Davison.

Courtney completed on-track preparations for Phillip Island with a test session at Queensland Raceway on September 2.

"We did some laps, and everything went well," he said. "Steve and I practised driver changes and the team did some work on pit stops."

"Steve has a different seating position because he is taller than me, so I will drive with a seat insert during my stints."

"After the testing we had some intensive fitness training on the Gold Coast, including cycling and other things, and now I'm feeling ready to go."

The Phillip Island event begins with three practice sessions on Friday. On Saturday there will be separate qualifying sessions and 14-lap races for drivers in each team to determine the grid for Sunday's race.

Courtney's best results in 2009 to date were a race win in Townsville in July, and second places in events at Hamilton in New Zealand, Sandown in Victoria, and at Queensland Raceway.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after event 8): Jamie Whincup (Ford) 2,007; Will Davison (Holden) 1,824; Garth Tander (Holden) 1,479; Craig Lowndes (Ford) 1,478; Steven Johnson (Ford) 1,374; Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 1,332; Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 1,269; Russell Ingall (Holden) 1,187; James Courtney (Ford) 1,154; Michael Caruso (Holden) 1,134

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