New kid on the block Courtney ready to impress at V8 Supercar opener in Adelaide

The new kid on the block is about to get a real taste of V8 action when international star James Courtney makes a much anticipated first full-time appearance on the V8 Supercar Championship Series in Adelaide next week.

The Clipsal 500 is one of the flagships of the V8 Supercar Championship Series with a crowd of more than 260,000 people expected over the weekend. It is also the chance for every team to draw a line in the sand and announce their intentions for the year.

Courtney’s much talked about return to Australia after more than a decade of racing overseas – and he’s only 25 – happens at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, one of the fiercest races in the sport because of its extreme pressure and even more extreme conditions.

This year it is also the first time they hit the track in anger. In recent years they have had the chance to iron out any wrinkles at the non-Championship Australian Grand Prix but this year will not due to the Commonwealth Games pushing back the Melbourne race.

After World Championships in Karts and drives in Formula One, Courtney will no doubt be stung by the potential 55 degree cabin temperatures and the intense racing although his class prevailed in his only two starts in a V8 Supercar last year.

In his V8 Supercar debut Courtney and veteran racer Jim Richards finished 11th at Sandown and were on the pace at Bathurst before a Courtney mistake and a subsequent brush against the wall ended their campaign for the Holden Racing Team.

Courtney steps on to centre stage to replace one of the best rookies in the history of V8 Supercars. Marcos Ambrose was able to step straight onto the pace in his debut season in 2001 and won his first of two Championships just three years later.

They are massive shoes to fill but ones that many believe he can. The conjecture is not just if he can cut it but when.

“I’m really looking forward to starting the season,” said Courtney.

“It’s been a long summer and everything is coming together now; I’m really happy with how the Jeld-Wen Motorsport Falcon has turned out, really nice and aggressive, and I’ve had plenty of time to get to know everyone in the team so that’s been great.

“The SBR boys have put in a lot of hard work building the new car, just as I have been training hard and preparing myself for the new season, now we all just want to get out there.”

Craig Lowndes' personal team uniforms and promotional clothing from his 'past' are now up for grabs on a new "Auction" feature of his official website, craiglowndes.com.

Launched just ahead of the 2006 season-opener in Adelaide, the new "Auction" feature of craiglowndes.com offers Lowndes fans, V8 Supercar memorabilia buffs and collectors alike the chance to get hold of items from Craig's personal collection.

"All of the items being auctioned on my website are my own actual uniform items, or promotional clothing, or team uniform bags, so you can be sure they're the genuine article," Craig Lowndes said.

"There's so much stuff that you just can't keep everything . at least this way I know these items will go to genuine fans."

Many of the items progressively being auctioned are unique - there is only one of them. And each is signed by Craig for authenticity.

Initially, two items from Craig's wardrobe are being offered for auction, and each is offered without a Reserve price:

- Craig's own Mobil Holden Race Team kit bag, dark blue, good condition, autographed by Craig

- Craig's own Clipsal 500 promotional shirt  (size 14) from 2002, autographed by Craig and Natalie Lowndes

Bidding for both is open until Sunday night 2 April at 8.30pm .

Every couple of weeks, another two items will go up for auction .

DJR SIGNS ALEX DAVISON

Alex Davison will contest the Sandown and Bathurst endurance events for Dick Johnson Racing this year.
 
The former Holden and now Carrera Cup racer has jumped the fence to join younger brother Will in the Ford-equipped DJR squad for the 2006 long-distance races.
 
"Alex is a great pick-up for the team, he's had a season of V8 Supercar experience already and he's doing a whole year of Carrera Cup, so he'll be race ready for us," Dick Johnson said.
 
"There's no question about his talent or his commitment.it runs in the family."
 
Davison will have his first test with DJR this Thursday (tomorrow) at Queensland Raceway.
 
"I can't wait to get back into a V8 Supercar, and I am very thankful to DJR for the chance," Alex Davison said.
 
"Last season was tough because of the environment I was in but my experience with DJR has been totally different . it is an incredibly professional operation with tremendous resources, this is a great opportunity and I am going to make the most of it."
 
DJR has yet to finalise its driver line-up for the 500 kilometre Sandown and 1000 kilometre Bathurst races, Alex unsure whether he will share with team regulars Steve Johnson or brother Will, or another as-yet-to-be-named driver.
 
"If they know they haven't told me!" the 26 year-old said.
 
Alex Davison is contesting the 2006 Carrera Cup series in a Glenfords Porsche 911 GT3.