Final Laps: James Courtney’s Farewell to the Gold Coast 500

After more than two decades at the pinnacle of Supercars, James Courtney prepares to say goodbye on his home track in Surfers Paradise

For more than two decades, James Courtney has been a fixture on the Repco Supercars Championship grid: a fierce competitor, a Bathurst 1000 winner, and one of the sport’s most recognisable personalities. But at the end of the 2025 season, the Gold Coast local will hang up his helmet from full-time racing and bring his incredible career to a close.

For fans on the Glitter Strip, that means this October’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 will carry even more significance. The streets of Surfers Paradise have long held a special place in Courtney’s heart, and this year, it’s where he’ll say goodbye to his home crowd.

“I’ve had a hugely successful career, had a great time doing it all and I want to end it on my terms,” said Courtney.

From his early years racing karts and junior formulas overseas, to earning a seat in Supercars and eventually becoming a 2010 Supercars champion, James Courtney’s story is one of perseverance, talent, and grit.

2025 Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440, Event 08 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Queensland Raceway, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. 10 Aug, 2025.

He has stood on the podium at the sport’s most iconic events, including the famed Bathurst 1000, where he scored victory in 2010 alongside Paul Dumbrell. That win cemented his place in Australian motorsport history and remains a defining moment of his career.

“Winning Bathurst in 2010 will always stand out as one of the biggest moments of my career, it’s the race every driver dreams of winning. I’ve been lucky to stand on podiums at some incredible races and to share the grid with some of the greatest names in motorsport. Looking back, that’s something I’ll always be proud of.”

For Courtney, the Gold Coast isn’t just another stop on the Supercars calendar, it’s home. Having settled on the Gold Coast, every year the GC500 brings around the opportunity to race the concrete jungle in front of his family and friends.

2025 Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440, Event 05 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Wanneroo Raceway, Perth, Queensland, Australia. 8 Jun, 2025.

The atmosphere of the GC500 is unlike any other event in the championship. With the ocean glistening alongside the circuit and the energy of thousands of fans packed into Surfers Paradise, it’s a race that blends the spectacle of motorsport with the lifestyle of the Gold Coast.

Courtney has delivered plenty of memorable moments on the Surfers streets, from bold overtakes to battling for podiums in front of friends, family, and a home crowd. For him, the 2025 edition of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is more than just another race, it’s a final farewell to his home track.

“Gold Coast is one of those showcase events on the Supercars calendar. Snaking through that Gold Coast skyline, the beach right there, it really is one of the best things about the track. Not to mention the crowd and the atmosphere. It’s big, and it’s unreal.

Before Courtney farewells the Gold Coast track, he’ll line up for one last tilt at Australia’s most famous race: the Bathurst 1000. The combination of Bathurst and the Gold Coast, back-to-back events on the calendar, offers fans a chance to witness two of the most thrilling spectacles in Australian sport. For Courtney, it’s the perfect stage to begin closing the curtain on a successful full-time career.

Courtney’s Supercars journey has been defined as much by the roar of the crowd as by his own skill behind the wheel, with fans backing him from his early races through to his farewell season.

“The fans have been with me through the ups and downs, and I can’t thank them enough for sticking by me. Having that support over so many years has kept me pushing, and I’m looking forward to giving it everything in these last races.”

As he reflects on a career filled with highs, lows, and everything in between, Courtney admits there are things he’ll miss about the week-in, week-out grind of Supercars.

2025 Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440, Event 05 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Carco Raceway, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 8 Jun, 2025.

“I’ll definitely miss the buzz of it all, the people, the competition, the adrenaline on race day. It’s been my life for so long.”

For Gold Coast fans, October’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is a chance to witness history. Courtney’s final laps on the concrete jungle track.

“I’ll be soaking it all up this year for sure. I’m enjoying the ride and taking the chance to push myself amongst the best. I want to enjoy every lap and make the most of these final races, especially with the fans who’ve been with me through everything.”

The Surfers Paradise circuit has always delivered drama and excitement, and this year it will also deliver a local driver taking on the course one last time as a full-time Supercars contender. For the Gold Coast, it’s a chance to celebrate both the race and the career of one of Australian motorsport’s greats.

Whether you’ve followed his journey since the early days, cheered him to victory at Bathurst, or simply love the spectacle of Supercars, this year’s GC500 is not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now via here  Supercars.com and Ticketek.