Charlie to the rescue - again
More news
By Gordon Lomas 3:01 PM Fri 8 October, 2010
Source: BigPond Sport
Charlie Schwerkolt was back steering the team he part owns today as the fall-out involving his buy-out continues to pepper the Bathurst pit lane.
Top Jim Beam team driver James Courtney and technical director Adrian Burgess remain at the centre of speculation as to whether they will leave the Dick Johnson Racing squad at the end of the season.
Schwerkolt donned team battledress on qualifying day intent on guiding the team he saved from the brink of collapse at the beginning of 2008 to success in Sunday's Bathurst 1000.
A multi-million-dollar takeover of Schwerkolt's half share in the team by Newcastle-based mining billionaire Nathan Tinkler is yet to run its course with settlement expected to be finalised sometime next week.
Schwerkolt, an alternate member of the V8 Supercar board, attended a board meeting in the V8 A-trailer last night dressed in civilian clothes but was back at the track today in Jim Beam clobber.
He is unable to comment about his future until the financial transfer of Tinkler's takeover is completed.
Schwerkolt has tasted considerable success with Courtney this season and wants to continue in the sport.
While there is nothing firm on the table, Schwerkolt has several options open to him of how to get back into the sport in an ownership capacity.
But at the moment it is known that Schwerkolt has placed priority on concentrating on his Melbourne-based Waverley forklift business.
Pitlane whispers have placed Courtney as a possible Holden Racing Team driver next season although there are arguments this may not be possible because the asking price may be too high.
Courtney has refused to speculate on where his future may be, saying it’s up to his manager, Alan Gow, to sort those affairs out.
It has also been touted that Courtney may remain in Queensland as Burgess has been linked with a possible switch to the Paul Morris Motorsport team if the Castrol Commodore of Greg Murphy becomes available.
