PERSONALITY NOMINEE COURTNEY APPRECIATES BEING PROFESSIONAL DRIVER

James Courtney, the V8 Supercar nominee in the 2008 CAMS Motor Sport Personality of the Year Award, today expressed appreciation about the opportunity to be a fulltime professional driver.

The Gold Coast-based racer aired his views in the wake of his nomination being announced before heading to Tasmania tomorrow to drive his JELD-WEN Ford Falcon in round 13 of the V8 Supercar Championship

"Anyone who can make a living out of their sport is incredibly lucky," said the Stone Brothers Racing driver. "It's something I appreciate and never take for granted."

"I got into racing karts as a kid because I loved it, and I realise that not many people can turn their childhood hobby into a fulltime career and get paid to do it."

"That's why I always try and promote my sport positively on and off the track, because the support we get from fans, sponsors, and everyone else is what keeps the professional drivers in our jobs."

"So it's satisfying to be nominated for this CAMS award because it recognises the efforts I have made."

Courtney, who finished on the podium in the past three Bathurst 1000 races, is the V8 Supercar representative among 17 nominations for the CAMS Motorsport Personality of the Year Award, sponsored by Shannons.

The winner will be announced at the Australian Motor Sport Awards at the Sofitel in Melbourne on December 12. Voting page link: http://www.cams.com.au/content.asp?PageID=About&ObjectID=671

According to the CAMS website, nominees must be a good role model, personable, a fair competitor, and a 'personality' in the motor sport arena who promotes motor sport in a positive light.

"Being on things such as 'Dancing With The Stars' (in 2007) on Channel 7 took V8 Supercars to new audiences, which was good for motor sport as well as my profile," said Courtney.

The 28-year-old said he also appreciated that motorsport had provided him with a comfortable lifestyle, including a waterfront home which he shares with wife Carys and 10-month-old baby daughter Zara.

"The only downside is all the travel for racing and other commitments, and being away from family," he said.

"But I don't complain because it's part of being a professional driver - many other jobs have just as much travel and they don't get to have fun racing cars like we do!"

Courtney is currently seventh in this year's championship going into the Tasmanian round at Symmons Plains, which starts with practice on Friday. The first of three races will be held on Saturday, with the remaining two races on Sunday.

This year, his third in the championship, he has finished four rounds on the podium, and won a race and claimed pole position as fastest qualifier at Queensland Raceway in July. He is seventh in the series, and was fourth in the previous round in Bahrain earlier this month.

"I'm feeling confident about Symmons Plains," said Courtney. "The critical thing is making it through the hairpin on the first lap. There is a long straight leading into a first-gear corner, and we've seen a lot of crashes there - you've got to keep clear of the carnage."

Courtney won two karting world championships, plus British Formula Ford and Japanese Formula 3 titles, and was a Jaguar Formula One test driver, during a decade overseas before returning to Australia to join SBR in 1996.

Source:V8 Latest News

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