Home podium for SBR
Round 7, City of Ipswich 400, Queensland Raceway, QLD

JELD-WEN Motorsport’s James Courtney achieved his third podium finish for the year at Queensland Raceway today, his third place boosting him to sixth in the V8 Supercar Championship standings.

Courtney took his maiden V8 Supercar race win yesterday but didn’t have it all his own way today, the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver forced to battle his way back to the front after a disappointing race this morning.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport driver sank to sixth position in race two as he struggled with a difficult BF Falcon. Starting from the front row, Courtney was swamped in the opening laps, dropping to fifth.

It wasn’t until his compulsory pit stop on lap 10 that the Gold Coast-based driver was able to stabilize the situation, rejoining the race in sixth position which he maintained until the chequered flag.

Some small changes to the number-four Falcon before race three produced a much improved car, and Courtney wasted no time in making up ground, passing Will Davison and Garth Tander in the opening laps.

Completing his compulsory pit stop on lap 11, it looked as though Courtney would rejoin the race behind Tander in fourth position, however the JELD-WEN Motorsport driver had other ideas, shooting past Tander through turn one and two to grab third.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport Falcon pulled away from Tander mid-race and Courtney claimed second position only five laps from the end of the 38-lap race when Russell Ingall had an excursion onto the grass.

Courtney crossed the line in second position, securing third for the round behind Mark Winterbottom and Russell Ingall.

SP Tools Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen has a rollercoaster of a home round, the 19-year old finishing 19th overall.

Van Gisbergen started race two from grid position 17, only able to work his way up to 15th before he slid off the track on lap 32, losing two positions.

The SP Tools Racing driver lost a further four places in the closing laps as he battled with the rear of the BF Falcon, crossing the line in 21st position.

Race three didn’t get much better for the young Kiwi, who admitted to today’s races being two of the most difficult of his career. Van Gisbergen picked up five positions throughout the race, finally finishing in 17th position.

Courtney’s performance this weekend has moved him into sixth position in the V8 Supercar Championship, with Shane van Gisbergen in 12th. SBR remains in fourth position in the teams championship.

The JELD-WEN Motorsport and SP Tools Racing teams next race will be at Winton in central Victoria, round eight of the V8 Supercar Championship Series from 1-3 August 2008.

James Courtney, #4, JELD-WEN Motorsport
“The SBR team did a great job to get us on the podium today. My hat goes off to the boys, they have worked really hard in recent rounds.

“We went the wrong way with set up in race two so we went the opposite in race three and the JELD-WEN Falcon was a lot better right from the start.

“I had some good little battles and when I saw my mate Russell off on the grass I thought ‘here’s an opportunity’.

“We had a bit of a drag as he got back on track but luckily for me there was more traction on the tarmac than on the grass.

“We are off to Winton next which is not our best track but with our recent results we should be able to get a good package together and have a good go.”

Shane van Gisbergen, #9, SP Tools Racing
“I really struggled with the SP Tools Racing Falcon today.

“The car would be really quick after our stops but use up the tyres quickly and become really loose.

“It’s probably the hardest I have had to battle to keep a car on the track; I’m exhausted.

“Part of that will be the new car and me not being used to it.

“I’m definitely looking forward to Winton now. It’s the last of the tracks for me to learn and we can focus on that and having a good car out of the box.”

Ross Stone, Team Principal, Stone Brothers Racing
“It was great to win our first race for a couple of years and be on the podium this weekend.

“We did 114 laps of racing over the weekend and of that, for eight laps at the start of race two the tyre combination was not that good and that cost us track position and probably an overall win.

“Regardless, the win opens the door for more wins and there is a confidence there to charge on for the rest of the season.”

V8 Supercars – Meeting Points
1. Mark Winterbottom 292 pts
2. Russell Ingall 264 pts
3. James Courtney 260 pts
4. Garth Tander 240 pts
5. Will Davison 216 pts
6. Jamie Whincup 210 pts
7. Mark Skaife 182 pts
8. Steven Richards 176 pts
9. Fabian Coulthard 166 pts
10. Cameron McConville 142 pts
19. Shane Van Gisbergen 100 pts

V8 Supercars – Championship Points
1. Mark Winterbottom 1694 pts
2. Garth Tander 1572 pts
3. Jamie Whincup 1486 pts
4. Rick Kelly 1312 pts
5. Steven Richards 1299 pts
6. James Courtney 1211 pts
7. Craig Lowndes 1175 pts
8. Will Davison 1154 pts
9. Russell Ingall 1061 pts
10. Lee Holdsworth 1016 pts
12. Shane Van Gisbergen 934 pts

V8 Supercars – Team Points
1. Ford Performance Racing 2993 pts
2. Team Vodafone 2661 pts
3. Toll Holden Racing Team 2510 pts
4. Stone Brothers Racing 2145 pts
5. Jim Beam Racing 2058 pts

V8 Supercars – Race 3
1. Mark Winterbottom
2. James Courtney
3. Russell Ingall
4. Garth Tander
5. Will Davison
6. Jamie Whincup
7. Craig Lowndes
8. Fabian Coulthard
9. Mark Skaife
10. Lee Holdsworth
17. Shane van Gisbergen  

V8 Supercars – Race 2
1. Mark Winterbottom
2. Russell Ingall
3. Jamie Whincup
4. Garth Tander
5. Will Davison
6. James Courtney
7. Steven Richards
8. Fabian Coulthard
9. Cameron McConville
10. Mark Skaife