Motorsport: In Beechey's star footsteps

James Courtney, 2010 Supercars champion. Photo / Supplied

Although there is no shortage of characters down the pit lane at the V8 Supercars in Hamilton, it is hard to beat the tale of James Courtney.

He defied the odds to win the 2010 championship, racing in old equipment for a family-backed team to beat the superstar squads. He survived a horrific crash at over 300km/h a decade ago - which put paid to any Formula One dreams.

Courtney also survived an appearance on Dancing with the Stars, enduring the inevitable fallout that comes with such a macho sport.

Now in 2011, he aims to become the first driver in three decades to win a championship with both Ford and Holden.

It was a fairytale run to the title last year - he hauled in Jamie Whincup after the two-time champion had swept the first four races of the year and then the double in Hamilton to establish a sizeable lead. Whincup has spoken of his anger at losing his crown but the laconic Courtney denies any extra pressure from being in the No1 car.

"It's fine - I had one on the car last year but it just had a number eight beside it," laughs Courtney. "I still go into every race to win like I did last year and it doesn't affect my approach. Maybe you do a few more PR commitments being the champion but that is about it. It is relatively business as usual."

The relationship between Whincup and Courtney has been described as "brittle", perhaps accentuated by the fact Courtney's success last year came in a car previously run by Whincup's team. While Team Vodafone built new cars for the 2010 season, over at Dick Johnson Racing Courtney was racing in a 2-year-old machine.

"It was a good, tough year, and I can see why he was upset," says Courtney. "No one would want to be beaten with their old equipment; it would be a bitter pill to swallow. But that's just the way it is - we won."

He showed his skill in the wet yesterday, climbing through the field after qualifying only 22nd.

He took an early pit stop, managed to avoid most of the carnage and finished a credible fifth.

Courtney's early years in V8 Supercars were characterised by aggressive, skilful driving - but also a cacophony of crashes.

He now takes a steadier approach. "Sometimes you have a car that can win; other times you have one that can come fourth. You just have to do your best with what you have got and try not to throw too many points away."

At the turn of the decade, Courtney was the next big thing in Australian motorsport. As a 20-year-old, he won the British Formula Ford Championship in 2000 and was well along the steep path to F1, racing and beating contemporaries like Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in Formula Three. That was until a horror smash during F1 testing at Monza in July 2002.

At 330km/h, his rear suspension failed when he tried to brake, sending his car straight into a wall. It rebounded 80m down the track at 70km/h.

Officials banned photographers from the scene, as they feared the worst. Michael Schumacher was an unlikely hero, rushing to his aid and translating as all the Italian safety officials were screaming at the Australian.

The impact of the crash has been estimated at 67Gs. Courtney was bleeding from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears and couldn't feel the right side of his body. He took a year to recover and during that time could barely walk, while the slightest noise or light would induce migraines. He did F1 testing again, but was too far behind the other contenders, and came home to Australia.

"It wasn't good. I was feeling a bit average for a while," says Courtney in his understated way. "From the impact my brain was swollen and bleeding and it is the slowest healing organ. But I am definitely back to normal - though my hearing is still a bit average [from damaged eardrums]."

Putting aside Monza, he jokes that the scariest episode of his life was appearing on Australian Dancing with the Stars in 2007. Claiming "zero natural talent", he did well to go beyond the first few rounds.

"When they sold me on the idea, they said it would be about three hours' practice a week. In the end, it was about five hours a day. At times it was horrible ... but it was good for my profile and great for our sport."

His dancing career finished with the show but the ribbing goes on.

"You can imagine I copped a bit of heat and flak and it continues to this day.

"I got called 'twinkletoes' around the pits - it was an interesting time in my life."

This year he will attempt to become only the second pilot to take the championship in both iconic car makes. Norm Beechey, who triumphed in a Ford in 1965 and a Holden five years later, is the only man to achieve the feat that has eluded modern day greats like Craig Lowndes and Whincup.