Motorsport: Courtney makes dramatic comeback to take Gold Coast event

James Courtney. File photo / NZME.

Holden star James Courtney has made a triumphant return from serious injury with victory in yesterday's V8 Supercars race on the Gold Coast.

Sidelined for nine weeks after being struck by debris thrown into him by the wash of a helicopter at Sydney Motorsport Park, Courtney made a bold play to claim the win in the 300km event.

Courtney suffered several broken ribs and a punctured lung in the incident and was forced to sit out both the Sandown and Bathurst 1000 endurance races.

In his comeback event, Courtney risked everything by pitting on lap 58 of 102 to top off his fuel. That splash and dash was enough for his Commodore to race to the end and when the rest of the field had completed their pit stops, it was the Holden man who came out on top. The victory is the 35-year-old's second of the season.

Nissan's Rick Kelly came second, three seconds behind, and Garth Tander finished third to claim the Pirtek Endurance Cup with co-driver Warren Luff for the best performed pairing over the past three events.

Championship leader Mark Winterbottom came 11th in a disappointing weekend with main title rival Craig Lowndes finishing fourth to reduce the Ford star's lead to 258 points with three rounds to go.

V8 Supercars have penalised Prodrive Racing Australia for the unsafe pit release which scuppered Winterbottom's Saturday race.

Winterbottom had only just jumped behind the wheel of his Falcon in the 300km race on the streets of Surfers Paradise when he ploughed into Tander's Holden.

He was given a drive-through penalty for the unsafe release and spent several laps in the garage having his car repaired. He eventually limped home in 23rd position.