Motorsport: Courtney eager to race new Commodore

James Courtney. Photo / Getty Images

ABU DHABI - V8 Supercar champion James Courtney is ready to put his new red rocket into hyperdrive when he takes to the Yas Circuit in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Courtney, 30, completed an off-season switch from Ford to Holden after winning the 2010 title with the Dick Johnson Racing team.

But while he has had little time to get used to his new Commodore at the Holden Racing Team, his experiences so far have him excited.

"I think this car's going to have more outright speed," Courtney told AAP.

"It's going to be a faster car, we've just got to work and get the consistency a bit better.

"I think it's going to be an easier car to win races with and also qualifying, to qualify on the front.

"In our car last year, in the longer part of qualifying we were really quite competitive but then the outright lap speed you couldn't really get the car to work whereas it seems to be a strength of this car.

"I'm looking forward to that bit because it certainly makes the weekend a lot easier when you're qualifying in the front two rows. I think that's going to be a good part about it."

Two-time champion Jamie Whincup made the switch from Ford to Holden last year but failed in his bid to win back-to-back titles with two different manufacturers.

But Courtney says he will not be looking at a bigger-picture scenario such as that until much later in the season.

"It'd be awesome to do. It'd be great, but we've got to focus on our small goals and build up to it.

"But definitely we're in it to win the championship and if that means winning back-to-back with two different manufacturers, then that's awesome.

"I'm not here to go out and come third in the championship, I'm here to win it. That's what the goal is."

And he feels that a big step towards achieving that goal would be a solid points haul from his HRT debut in the United Arab Emirates this weekend.

"If you can really get a good weekend while we're away it can really set up your whole year," Courtney said.

"You have to make sure you have a strong weekend while we're away.

"I think it's going to be a great season. Lot of strong drivers in strong cars.

"I think it's going to be an even tighter season than it was last year, I think everyone's going to step it up on what they had last year."

- AAP