DJR future uncertain

Mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has withdrawn his $4 million offer for a half stake in Dick Johnson Racing, ending months of negotiations with Johnson's current racing partner, Charlie Schwerkolt.

Yesterday's development re-ignites a long running dispute between Johnson and Schwerkolt over the future of DJR that partly turns on the driving career of Steven 'Junior' Johnson.  But both sides are back in negotiations that could either see Schwerkolt take complete control of the Gold Coast racing operation or walk away to concentrate on his Melbourne-based multi-million dollar forklift empire.

But the ownership of the company is critical, since Courtney is currently tied to DJR and could switch to another team for 2010 if the ownership changes.  Courtney currently leads the V8 Supercar championship heading to the next round in Launceston this weekend and his manager Alan Gow yesterday denied rumours that he might drive for the Holden Racing Team in 2011.

"Enough is enough. James remains 100 per cent focused on winning this year's championship, and delivering more race wins for both his team and Ford fans who have supported him for many years," Gow said in a statement from his office in England.

"Let me be very clear on this; James is contracted to Dick Johnson Racing and that is the only contract or agreement in existence for him to drive in the V8 Supercar Championship. I really can't put it any more plain than that."

While the DJR situation is as confused and confrontational as ever, four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy has confirmed he is quitting his current ride with the Paul Morris team. Castrol, Murphy's backer this year, has also withdrawn its support.

Murphy is unlikely to get a fulltime drive for 2011 but is believed to be chasing a co-driving seat for the long-distance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.  "I am not retiring," Murphy said.

For Johnson, the ownership dispute threatens to overtake his team's championship bid but he is putting on a brave face.  "We're carrying on as we have and focussing ahead to the Tasmanian round, then Sandown and then Homebush and winning the championship," 
Johnson said.

"Hopefully we can wrap it up before the last round."  Courtney has been backed by Ford since he came to V8 Supercar racing from Japan and the company's motorsport manager, Chris Styring, admitted he was keen to keep him.

But Styring also said "there is a bit too much speculation at the moment".  "People are making fantastic summations and guesswork about what he's doing, but he's still driving for Ford at the moment," Styring said, while refusing any comment on the DJR ownership.  "We've sort of let Dick get on with that."