“I would have to say that I am a little surprised to be on the podium," Courtney admitted, "I thought the day was done when we thought we had broken the rear roll bar, but we were able to come back and it's a credit to the team, and to David, that they never gave up.
“I was pretty determined in that last stint. I double stinted and I was taking no prisoners, pushing like crazy to get up there and using up a lot of the brakes and tyres coming through. When I saw that 'Richo' was having problems though, I jumped at the opportunity to pass.
“It's a great achievement for SBR and myself to be on the podium three years in a row, and David two in a row. I can't thank him and the boys on the team enough.”
Besnard admitted that it had possibly been the toughest he had found the 'Great Race', and wondered what could have been if not for the early problems.
“I'm really satisfied to be on the podium, but I guess, in some ways, James and I are also a little disappointed," he reflected, "This was probably our biggest chance for a win, and the Jeld-Wen Falcon was great, but, by the same hand, with the dramas we had early in the race, a podium result is fantastic.
“This would have to be the hardest Bathurst I've done and the bloke beside me drove amazingly. For SBR to have the faith in both of us, and for them to stick with me this year, it's great to bring home another podium.”
Courtney's result puts him into seventh place in the V8 Supercar standings, but it was a different story on the other side of the SBR garage where, after also looking strong in the early stages, Shane van Gisbergen and co-driver Jonathon Webb ran into delamination problems.
