WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20: James Courtney, winner of the final race of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship, remains upbeat and amused amid claims he and other Falcon drivers will be dominated by Holden in this year's series.

"Holden are talking themselves up as the January champions, which is good for a laugh, but you don't actually win anything until December," said the Jim Beam Racing Falcon driver.

"Let's wait and see what happens because a Falcon built by Triple Eight Engineering won the title the last couple of years (2008 & 2009)."

"I've got one of those cars (Triple Eight Engineering-built Falcon) so I know I've got as good a shot as anyone at this year's title."

"They say you're only as good as your last race, which I won (in Sydney on December 6), and I'm keen to give our team's fans plenty more to cheer about this season."

Courtney's comments follow a report in the January edition of V8X magazine where Simon McNamara from Holden Motorsport was reported to have said: "Ford dropped the ball and I honestly can't see them winning anything in 2010. I want to fill the entire podium with Commodores. I like domination and I like crushing."

Courtney said he was also unfazed by the fact there could be only 10 Falcons racing against up to 19 Commodores in this year's championship."

"You only need one car to win the title, backed up by the best engineering, driver, and team package," said the 29-year-old Gold Coast-based racer.

"There's no advantage having twice as many Commodores if half of them finish in the bottom 10 places."

Courtney said the main shift in power for 2010 was Holden recruiting Team Vodafone and its drivers Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.

"I think this season you will see the same six or seven guys up the front going for the win, but the balance will be different because the Team Vodafone guys are in Holdens," said Courtney.

"That will make Holden stronger, but not unbeatable. There will still be fast Falcons - both Mark Winterbottom (Ford Performance Racing) and I have won races in each of the past two years."

"My team-mate Steven Johnson was sixth in the championship last season so there could be races this year when Falcons fill the podium."

Courtney said his 2010 prospects were enhanced by the continuity of driving for Jim Beam Racing again. He won two races and had six podium finishes in his debut season with the team in 2009.

"We have shown we can win when things go our way, so the challenge now is to make it happen more often and go for the championship," he said.

Courtney said it was essential he made a strong start to the 2010 season, which begins in Abu Dhabi (February 18-20), followed by Bahrain (February 25-27), Adelaide (March 11-14), and Hamilton in New Zealand (April 16-18).

"Abu Dhabi is new for everyone, but that doesn't worry me," said Courtney. "Last year we had two new tracks in Townsville and Sydney and I won races at both of them."

"I've also been on the podium at Bahrain, Adelaide, and Hamilton, so I expect to be competitive from day one."

Courtney said an intriguing aspect of the championship which could work in his favour was the anticipated 'in-house' rivalry between the factory-backed Commodores of the Holden Racing Team and Team Vodafone.

"Both will want to establish themselves as No 1 at Holden," said Courtney. "They come from British origins and have been battling each other overseas for years."

"If they start taking points off each other then it might be easier for me to sneak through under their guard."

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

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