Courtney ruled out of Bathurst 1000

V8 Supercars champion James Courtney has been forced to pull out of this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, as he continues to recover from a freak accident.

Courtney suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung when struck in pitlane by signage propelled by a low flying helicopter at August’s Sydney event.

Veteran Russell Ingall will replace Courtney in the race.

“It’s our grand final. It’s the race that stops the nation – to be taken out through no fault of my own is massively annoying,” a shattered Courtney said.

Courtney had been trying to fast track his recovery by undergoing a procedure that sends electrical pulses to numb the nerve endings around his tender ribs.

Ingall will partner Jack Perkins.

Ingall, 51, came out of an eight-month retirement to fill in for Courtney at last month’s Sandown 500, nabbing a shock top-10 finish.

It will be the 24th Great Race for the two-time Bathurst winner.