| Celebrations for the Holden Racing Team’s 25th anniversary are off to a roaring start, with the iconic team launching its regular season livery on its birthday at Holden’s retail facility at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.The new-look HRT Commodore, unveiled today by the team’s champion drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, features an aggressive-looking black and dayglo red livery incorporating sponsors Holden, SP Tools, Mobil, HSV, and Monster Energy.
The team, which won Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 event last year with Courtney taking victory, made its race debut 25 years ago to the day – at the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the event held at the now-defunct Amaroo Park Raceway in Sydney.
On Sunday 25 February 1990, then-team manager and driver Win Percy drove the Holden Racing Team’s lone entry at the event, the #16 HRT VL Commodore SS Group A SV, and finished 14th.
Since then, HRT has become one of Australia’s greatest sporting success stories with a record-200-plus race wins, including seven at the Bathurst 1000, and six championships – including a record-five straight from 1998 to 2002.
HRT also remains the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, Simon McNamara said HRT’s achievements across two and a half decades are a huge source of pride for Holden – with the relationship not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.
“The Holden Racing Team is an Aussie icon, and its history of sustained success is something that we can all be proud of – especially today, given it’s the team’s 25thbirthday,” McNamara said.
“2015 is going to be a great year for HRT, as we celebrate its silver anniversary – and may the success on-track continue all the way through to the final round in Sydney, and beyond.”
GM Holden Design Manager, Peter Hughes said the team’s regular season livery took its inspiration not only from the menacing black HRT Commodore that ran at the V8 SuperTest earlier this month, but also past masters.
“I think the new look is aggressive, and unmistakably HRT,” Hughes said.
“The red and black look with traditional white bonnet is a respectful nod to the original VE Commodore from 2007. The livery we ran at the V8 SuperTest was really a prelude to what we’ve revealed today, with far more black.”
The enduring partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team is complemented by major commitments from SP Tools; Mobil, who head into their 22nd year with HRT, and HSV, which has been on-board from the outset.
Additional long-term partnerships include NGK, entering its 21st year with HRT; John Hart, a partner for 15 years; MTAA Super, celebrating its eighth season with the team; and PPG Industries, which has been with HRT from day one (initially as Dulux).
New partners Monster Energy and Dell join them, while Morris Finance has an upgraded presence with the team.
As part of the milestone festivities, the HRT Commodore will feature a number of special one-off liveries throughout the season, including the traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.
The celebrations have also extended to the official team wear and merchandise – which has been transformed by TPF Sports, the global firm recently appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands.
Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess said the best possible way for the team to celebrate its 25th anniversary was by fighting at the front of the ultra-competitive V8 Supercars grid.
“V8 Supercars truly is the world’s most competitive touring car series, and over the past 25 years HRT has established itself as one of the sport’s leading lights,” Burgess said.
“The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to ensure we start this very special season on the front foot, and we look forward to seeing Garth and James fighting tooth and nail for race wins – and celebrating in style.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by HRT’s drivers, Tander and Courtney.
“It’s a wonderful thing to be part of the Holden Racing Team on this occasion – and I feel proud as a driver,” Tander said.
“The #2 HRT Commodore was strong at the end of last year, so with the amount of work we’ve done throughout the off-season we should be in a good position to fight at the front from the outset.”
“I love the new-look, our HRT Commodore just looks so tough and menacing – which is as it should be,” Courtney said.
“We’re planning to start this season in style, with plenty to celebrate off-track, so I’m ready to get behind the wheel and give it my best.”
The HRT Commodores will be on track from Friday 27th February, with practice set to start at 9.05am ACDT. |
Holden Racing Team Launches Regular Season Livery on 25th Birthday
/in News /by James CourtneyThe team, which won Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 event last year with Courtney taking victory, made its race debut 25 years ago to the day – at the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the event held at the now-defunct Amaroo Park Raceway in Sydney.
On Sunday 25 February 1990, then-team manager and driver Win Percy drove the Holden Racing Team’s lone entry at the event, the #16 HRT VL Commodore SS Group A SV, and finished 14th.
Since then, HRT has become one of Australia’s greatest sporting success stories with a record-200-plus race wins, including seven at the Bathurst 1000, and six championships – including a record-five straight from 1998 to 2002.
HRT also remains the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, Simon McNamara said HRT’s achievements across two and a half decades are a huge source of pride for Holden – with the relationship not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.
“The Holden Racing Team is an Aussie icon, and its history of sustained success is something that we can all be proud of – especially today, given it’s the team’s 25thbirthday,” McNamara said.
“2015 is going to be a great year for HRT, as we celebrate its silver anniversary – and may the success on-track continue all the way through to the final round in Sydney, and beyond.”
GM Holden Design Manager, Peter Hughes said the team’s regular season livery took its inspiration not only from the menacing black HRT Commodore that ran at the V8 SuperTest earlier this month, but also past masters.
“I think the new look is aggressive, and unmistakably HRT,” Hughes said.
“The red and black look with traditional white bonnet is a respectful nod to the original VE Commodore from 2007. The livery we ran at the V8 SuperTest was really a prelude to what we’ve revealed today, with far more black.”
The enduring partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team is complemented by major commitments from SP Tools; Mobil, who head into their 22nd year with HRT, and HSV, which has been on-board from the outset.
Additional long-term partnerships include NGK, entering its 21st year with HRT; John Hart, a partner for 15 years; MTAA Super, celebrating its eighth season with the team; and PPG Industries, which has been with HRT from day one (initially as Dulux).
New partners Monster Energy and Dell join them, while Morris Finance has an upgraded presence with the team.
As part of the milestone festivities, the HRT Commodore will feature a number of special one-off liveries throughout the season, including the traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.
The celebrations have also extended to the official team wear and merchandise – which has been transformed by TPF Sports, the global firm recently appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands.
Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess said the best possible way for the team to celebrate its 25th anniversary was by fighting at the front of the ultra-competitive V8 Supercars grid.
“V8 Supercars truly is the world’s most competitive touring car series, and over the past 25 years HRT has established itself as one of the sport’s leading lights,” Burgess said.
“The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to ensure we start this very special season on the front foot, and we look forward to seeing Garth and James fighting tooth and nail for race wins – and celebrating in style.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by HRT’s drivers, Tander and Courtney.
“It’s a wonderful thing to be part of the Holden Racing Team on this occasion – and I feel proud as a driver,” Tander said.
“The #2 HRT Commodore was strong at the end of last year, so with the amount of work we’ve done throughout the off-season we should be in a good position to fight at the front from the outset.”
“I love the new-look, our HRT Commodore just looks so tough and menacing – which is as it should be,” Courtney said.
“We’re planning to start this season in style, with plenty to celebrate off-track, so I’m ready to get behind the wheel and give it my best.”
The HRT Commodores will be on track from Friday 27th February, with practice set to start at 9.05am ACDT.
V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPION JAMES COURTNEY LAUNCHES JC KARTS
/in News /by James CourtneyFriday, 16th January 2015
Holden V8 Supercars star, James Courtney is set to pass on the experience of his youth and support the next generation of racers by launching his own line of go-karts under the JC Kart banner.
Courtney is a two-time CIK-FIA World Karting Champion, having won the 1995 World Junior Karting Championship held at Braga in Portugal, and the Senior title in Salbris, France, just two years later. He remains the only Australian to have won a world karting title at any level.
The 2010 V8 Supercars Champion and factory Holden Racing Team driver has teamed with former mentor Jon Targett to bring the brand to market, with the first JC Kart to be unveiled next month.
Designed in conjunction with Courtney and Targett, and manufactured in Italy, JC Karts will offer a line of models covering the entire range of go-karting categories, from Cadet to the CIK-FIA classes.
“I cannot explain how excited and proud I am launching JC Karts,” Courtney said.
“Karting is the foundation for all motor racing – it is not only a fun and exciting sport, but is also where so many of today’s champions began their careers.
“I have many great memories of my time karting, and for the past few years have been kicking around the idea of how I could again become involved and give something back to it – and JC Karts is the result.”
Courtney said Targett’s involvement has been crucial in the launch of JC Karts.
Targett is considered one of the world’s best kart drivers and mentors, having raced and beaten former F1 stars Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jan Magnussen and Jos Verstappen, before guiding the likes of Courtney and former V8 driver David Besnard.
“When the idea of building my own brand was floated there was no one that I wanted more to be a part of JC Karts than Jon,” Courtney said.
“Not only was he a great driver in his own right, and an advisor to me in my early career, but Jon was also instrumental in the success of the Top Kart and Energy Corse brands.”
JT Motorsport will distribute JC Karts in Queensland, with Australian karting legends, Troy Hunt and James Sera appointed distributors in New South Wales and Victoria respectively.
For JC Kart enquiries, email info@jamescourtney.com.au or your local dealer.
Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JC-Kart/1524075804540577?ref=hl
Twitter: @JC_Kart
Instagram jc_kart
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Courtney Podium and Tander Fifth
/in News /by James CourtneyPole Position Pukekohe Round 4, V8 Supercar Championship 2014
Saturday 26th April, 2014
The Holden Racing Team returned to the V8 Supercars Championship podium with James Courtney scoring a second place finish in the first of today’s 100km races at the ITM 500 Auckland at Pukekohe.
After gaining pole position during the first of the two qualifying sessions, Courtney made a good start to race 11 but was unable to hold onto the advantage into the first turn moving into second place and maintained his position for the remainder of the race.
On the other side of the garage, teammate Garth Tander registered the 11th best time of today’s first 10 minute all-in qualifying dash. Tander then raced hard to finish the #2 Commodore with ninth place honours.
Qualifying for race 12 of the ITM 500 Auckland saw a late red flag stop proceedings with one minute and 20 seconds remaining on the clock. At the front of the queue Tander left pit lane with a last ditch effort to record his quickest time for the session by immediately registering a strong fifth place, whilst Courtney retained the 11th position time he was in, prior to the broken session.
From that point, Tander managed to maintain his track position despite fending off late race challenges from Reynolds and was pleased with his Commodore’s overall performance. Courtney finished the day in race 12 in 12th position.
The 2014 V8 Supercars Championship continues this weekend in Barbagello.
Holden Racing Team
New website for JC
/in News /by James CourtneyTo keep up with technology and social media is a difficult task and James has always prided himself in having a fresh website that allows people who enjoy motorsport to see a different side, share information ask questions etc.
This is why over the last month we have worked with ProminentPosition.com.au to achieve this.
James has taken some feedback from fans and sponsors and given his website a ‘facelift’.
The updated jamescourtney.com.au site allows you to enjoy all the information, images and interact with both James and the Holden racing team. You can do this by simply viewing the videos , reading the articles or asking James or Engineering team questions.
To celebrate the Clipsal success below is a YouTube clip with James delivering the trophy to HRT headquarters.
From James and myself we thank you for your support the last few years and we hope you enjoy the new look site and the 2014 V8 Supercars championship looks to be an exciting season ahead with competitive cars, new sponsors and exciting events to be part of.
Keep cheering!!
Best wishes for you and yours,
Carys Courtney
JCS RACE WRAP – PHILLIP ISLAND
/0 Comments/in News /by James CourtneyThanks to all the V8 Supercar fans who have sent me messages of support on social media and elsewhere since my big crash at Phillip Island on Saturday. This is something my family and I appreciate very much. I’ve had an MRI scan this week which showed I have a fractured tibia and a tear in the quad muscle in my right leg. Unfortunately I will be on crutches for a few weeks and will miss the final championship round in Sydney (December 6-8). Nick Percat will drive for the Holden Racing Team at Homebush. It’s disappointing to miss Sydney, but in reality the outcome of this crash could have been much worse because it was one of the biggest shunts of my career. When Alex Premat’s Commodore smashed into the driver’s door of my car, the impact bent and pushed everything inwards toward me. My right leg was squashed in by the tangled metal. Once I was pulled out of the car my leg was sore and I was limping. A crucial reason why I was able to avoid more serious injuries is the improved safety features of the ‘Car of the Future’ vehicles we are racing this year. The driver’s seat in my HRT Commodore, and in all the 2013-spec cars, is closer to the middle of the cockpit compared to our previous machines. If that accident had happened 12 months ago I would have been seated closer to the door and my injuries could have been far greater. Earlier this year Scott Pye walked away unscathed from a big crash at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, so it’s great to see the various safety improvements to the new cars are working. My crash at Phillip Island happened after Alex went off the track through a gravel trap on lap 11 of the first of the three races. His car then slid across the grass and back onto the track and hit my HRT Commodore as I was driving past. I didn’t see anything. There was no warning. After our cars stopped, Alex pulled me out of my car through the passenger door. When we were in the medical vehicle he said a tyre went down on his car and that’s why he initially went off the track. It was one of those racing accidents that unfortunately happen from time to time. As a driver, you have to accept it as part of what we do. I had an examination in the Medical Centre after the crash, and travelled home to the Gold Coast on Saturday night. I was sore, but it wasn’t until I had the MRI scan that I found out what my injuries were. I scored no championship points at Phillip Island, as was the case in the previous two rounds at Bathurst and the Gold Coast, but remain in ninth in the series. My team-mate Garth Tander provided some good news for HRT in the 13th and penultimate championship round by winning the first race. We had a month-long break between the Gold Coast and Phillip Island rounds. During the break I travelled to Newcastle and helped McDonald Jones Homes raise $100,000 for Maitland Hospital, and also visited Adelaide for the launch of the 2014 Clipsal 500. Keith Urban will perform at next year’s Clipsal 500, and before the launch I was involved in filming a video in the HRT workshop. I had to put on a cowboy hat and ‘mime’ one of Keith’s country tunes. For those who want to know what I’m doing between races, and at our events, you can follow me on Twitter at: twitter.com/jcourtney 1 Autograph
JC PHILLIP ISLAND RESULTS – JAMES COURTNEY ROUND 13, V8 Supercar Championship, (November 22-24) Qualifying – Race 1:15th Race 1 Result (28 laps): did not finish Qualifying – Race 2: did not start Race 2 Result (23 laps): did not start Qualifying – Race 3: did not start Race 3 Result (23 laps): did not start CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after round 13): Jamie Whincup (Holden) 2,815; Craig Lowndes (Holden) 2,795; Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 2,691; Will Davison (Ford) 2,592; Fabian Coulthard (Holden) 2,393; Garth Tander (Holden) 2,259; Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden) 2,254; Jason Bright (Holden) 2,123; James Courtney (Holden) 1,909; Scott McLaughlin (Holden) 1,866
JCS SUPPORTS BRAVEHEARTS
/0 Comments/in News /by James CourtneyV8 Supercars Champion James Courtney is racing to protect Australian children and raise awareness of the nation’s leading child advocacy agency, Bravehearts at this weekend’s ArmorAll Gold Coast 600.
The Holden Racing Team driver will sport a brave new custom helmet design this weekend, which features a mix of Courtney’s traditional fluro green and yellow mixed with Braveheart’s purple and white colours and highlighted by its signature White Balloon logo.
A father of two – his daughter Zara (5), and son Cadel (3) – Courtney has been a Bravehearts ambassador for several years and says it provides valuable services for the community.
“As a father of two young kids, I am extremely passionate about child protection – it’s close to my heart and Bravehearts is an organisation I am proud to support,” Courtney said.
“The organisation has been at the forefront of raising awareness of child sexual abuse for almost two decades, and has a dedicated team of people who are passionate about making a difference.
“Bravehearts provides much-needed services such as victim counselling, education in schools and assisting with protection and prevention strategies.
“My helmet is a vital part of equipment keeping me safe in my race car and Bravehearts is a vital organisation keeping our children safe in the community.
“If changing my helmet this weekend helps raise awareness about Bravehearts and the great work it does in the community then I’m proud to wear this new design.”
The stunning Bravehearts scheme took 50 hours to complete, undergoing a unique and specialised method of painting by Ant of Antman Helmet Design, who is based at Yatala, near the Gold Coast.
“This is the 12th helmet I’ve completed for JC; it’s the most colourful I’ve done, we’ve gone as bright as we could, and it’s the one I’m most proud of yet – it feels great we’ve been able to combine to do something for the kids,” Ant said.
Founded in 1997, Bravehearts aims to empower, educate and protect by providing healing and support, engendering child sexual assault prevention and protection strategies; advocating for understanding and promoting increased education and research.
It provides educational resources for children, parents and teachers, advocacy for victims of child sexual abuse, and court support for victims required to appear as witnesses in criminal cases.
The association has also been involved in child protection research and has made numerous submissions to Federal and State Government inquiries and reviews.
Bravehearts is a registered charity and employs more than 50 staff across nine offices in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
The Bravehearts White Balloon Day is held each year during Child Protection Week, raising awareness of child sexual abuse and valuable funding for the organisation.
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