TEAM SYDNEY ON THE SKIDS?

Team Sydney on the skids? – Photo: InSyde Media

Amid on-going speculation that Team Sydney’s future was tenuous, former Supercars champion James Courtney has quit the troubled squad without explanation.

Analysis by MARK FOGARTY

In a media release issued on his behalf, Courtney has announced that he has left the team, which is supposed to be setting up in Sydney.

There is informed conjecture that he and sponsor Boost Mobile, which replaced Coca-Cola as his car’s primary sponsor at the Adelaide 500, will switch to the TCR Australia Series.

AUTO ACTION also understands that Courtney has approached at least one other Supercars team for a co-driver spot for the Supercars endurance races.

In a bulletin headed “James Courtney to step back from Team Sydney”, it was revealed that he had “elected to depart Team Sydney, effective immediately”.

“We have not been able to agree on the way forward, so I have decided to depart the team,” Courtney is quoted in the three-paragraph statement. “I wish Team Sydney all the best for the future.”

It added: “Courtney has no alternative arrangements in place and cannot comment on his future at this time.”

We can only speculate on the reason for his departure, but Team Sydney has been wracked with division and struggled to find major backing since it’s hasty announcement at last year’s Bathurst 1000.

Despite the encouragement of Supercars and support of the NSW government to set up in western Sydney, the recast Tekno Autosports team was on the brink of death late last year into early this year.

Courtney, the 2010 V8 champion, was actively pursuing endurance race co-drives with other teams.

His efforts appeared to have revived the Team Sydney concept, with the help of his erstwhile manager Alan Gow and former Holden Motorsport boss Simon McNamara as ‘advisors’, when his car appeared at the Supercars launch in Coke livery.

However, it soon became clear that Coca-Cola Amatil wasn’t directly involved, with the faux deal emanating from second driver Chris Pither’s association with convenience store distributor United Convenience Buyers, a major Coke customer.

James Courtney in Boost colours at the Adelaide 500 – Photo: InSyde Media

On the eve of the Adelaide 500, Courtney’s car was changed to Boost Mobile livery, extending his personal backing from the secondary telco.

Boost pulled its backing of GRM at the end of last season, citing boss Peter Adderton’s dissatisfaction with Supercars’ technical rules.

Although Courtney showed glimpses of speed, both Team Sydney entries finished at the back of the filed in each race in Adelaide.

The squad was due to set up in a temporary western Sydney base after its return from Adelaide before moving to a purpose-built facility at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Supercars has supported Tekno’s move from the Gold Coast, although it denies any financial subsidy.

A new team base at SMP was part of a $33 million upgrade funded by the NSW government, including track lighting and a motorsport industry hub.

Courtney’s announcement adds impetus to rumours that he was organising a separate TCR entry.

The future of Team Sydney is unknown. The team is committed to running two cars all season, facing a fine of $150,000 for each event per entry it misses, ultimately resulting in the withdrawal of its REC/s.

We could try to contact team principal Jonathon Webb for comment, but our bitter experience is that our calls will not be returned – despite his protestations that the media doesn’t reach out to his team.

That is simply not true.

We remain open to dialogue at any time.

Supercars has invested a lot of time and effort, if not money, into establishing Team Sydney and Courtney’s abandonment only adds to the series’ challenges.

Holden doomed, showcase Sydney team shaky. Where does it end?

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