TEAM SYDNEY SAVED!

TEAM SYDNEY is all set to go ahead after surviving life-threatening disputes, with a second entry secured and star signing James Courtney committed.

By MARK FOGARTY

After appearing to be dead, renewed efforts led by Courtney have apparently revived the project in its full two-car form based in western Sydney.

Tekno Autosports has gained control of the Team Sydney franchise and will run under that branding from the start of the season.

Headed by Jonathon Webb, the recast squad will relocate from the Gold Coast to the Harbour City during the season as part of the Supercars- and NSW government-supported initiative.

After weeks of confusion, informed sources have confirmed a recent revival of Team Sydney.

This tallies with Supercars supremo Sean Seamer’s declaration that it was “on track”.

“It’s all back on,” an insider confided. “It was always problematical with some serious issues, but they have been resolved.”

While there are still many unanswered questions, Auto Action has learned that the Tekno-owning Webb family has secured an extra Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) from Supercars and agreed to buy the spare ZB Commodore that Triple Eight used in the VCAT aero tests.

Team Sydney will run two cars for Courtney and an as-yet-unidentified driver, who may be a youngster bringing budget support.

We believe that Courtney committed to the project after ownership disputes and general uncertainty saw him looking for an enduro co-drive this year.

It’s further understood that the 2010 Supercars champion has been instrumental and deeply involved in getting Team Sydney back on the rails.

Supercars has endorsed the revised plan and advised stakeholders that Team Sydney is going ahead.

It is believed that Supercars signed off on the transfer of an unused REC to the Webbs as recently as late last week.

With Team Sydney running two cars, the Supercars field will stay at 24.

Courtney, who is a close friend of Jonathon Webb, is much more involved in Team Sydney than just its star driver.

He is part of the management group with a long-term view to running the squad after he finishes racing.

Team Sydney is expected to set up in an interim factory in western Sydney later this year before moving to a dedicated site at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The squad will be the showcase tenant of a motor sport industry hub to be established as part of the NSW government-funded $33 million upgrade of SMP, including permanent track lighting for this year’s return of Supercars’ Sydney SuperNight at the end of August.

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