Stone Brothers Racing has announced that James Courtney will leave the team at the end of his current contract in a moꦓve that is set to kick-start the V8 Supercar driver changes.

Courtney, who joined the team at the end of 2005 to replace NASCAR-bound Marcos Ambrose, finished sixth in the champions🦹hip standings this season at the wheel of the JELD-WEN Motorsport Ford Falcon.

He will remain with the team to fulfil commitments already in place before leaving when his contract expires at t𝔍he end of th𝄹e year.

While team and driver have made no further comment on future plans, Courtney's most likely destinatio🉐n is believed to be Jim Beam Racing, where he would line up alongside Steven Johnson for the 2009 season.

Johnson's current team-mate, Will Davison, is expected to move over to the factory Holden Racing teaওm for the new campaign to replace retiring legend Mark Skaife wh🧸ile a number of other driver moves are now expected to take place as the pack shuffles during the off-season.

Who will replace Courtney at Stone Brother🐽s remains to be seen, although the 𓃲team has already announced a tie-up with Jason Bright's Britek organisation for next year.

Bright isn'ꦫt expected to be a direct replacement for Courtney however, with sportscar racer Alex Davison being ๊tipped by the Australian press as one possible candidate after an impressive season of racing in Europe.