James Courtney announced his retirement by accident – on the television news. With his eyes set on a career in real estate, it made sense for the 44-year-old to plug the Gold Coast firm he was joining and talk up his expertise. But in doing so, he also stated that he was hanging up the helmet next year on his 25-year career and 250-plus rounds of Australia’s Supercars championship.
That career did not go in the direction Courtney – and many others – probably expected. A Junior Karting World title at 15 and the Formula A crown two years later earmarked him as a driver set for the very top, and a dominant British Formula Ford title in 2000 – against a field that included Anthony Davidson – did nothing to diminish that notion.
