LONDONDERRY’S James Courtney continued his strong late season form to finish third in the Sydney 500 on Sunday which was abandoned 29 laps from the finish due to the severe weather.
Courtney was the quickest in the end of the practice sessions on Friday, but could only qualify to start from position 22 on the grid.
The first race on Saturday he improved and gained 11 places to finish 11th.
Courtney’s team found improvements in the car and on Saturday he qualified in sixth.
The weather played a major role in race two on Saturday afternoon.
A heavy downpour caused the race to be red flagged and suspended while under Safety Car on the 19th of 37 laps.
After 20 minutes of sitting stationary in pit lane, drivers were sent out behind the safety car to complete the required number of laps so as to award points, and Courtney finished sixth.
Courtney posted the 10th fastest time in qualifying on Sunday, but in the Top Ten Shootout he improved his starting position to be fourth on the grid.
The final race of the year started with all cars on wet tyres.
The track soon started to show a dry line forcing a change to racing slicks.
In lap 38 of 74 the drivers were forced in again to change to wet tyres as the rain started to fall.
On lap 39 Courtney was in ninth but by lap 41 had made gains to third.
The safety car was deployed because of the heavy rain and lack of vision and grip and the race suspended with the cars again returning to pit lane.
Courtney finished the year in sixth spot overall as Jamie Whincup claimed a record sixth V8 Supercars title.
