Le Brocq explains late blow

Jack Le Brocq was quietly compiling a solid weekend at the Melbourne SuperSprint, but his work was undone in the final race.

New Erebus Motorsport recruit Le Brocq entered the final race fifth in the Larry Perkins Trophy points and even in mathematical albeit highly unlikely contention to take the crown.

Since finishing the opening race 13th, the #9 had finished in the top 10 in the following four races across Bathurst and Albert Park including a fifth in the Saturday night affair to be eighth in the title race.

But that streak came to an end on the opening lap of the final race at the Melbourne SuperSprint.

Le Brocq was fighting in ninth before he suddenly had to head to the pits after being worse off in a wheel to wheel clash with Thomas Randle.

The steering damage inflicted meant Le Brocq suffered his first DNF of the 2024 season.

“It was just a late move I suppose and got used as a bit of a door stop unfortunately,” Le Brocq told AUTO ACTION.

“These things with the steering with the way they are, it grabbed the wheel in the wrong way and ended up breaking the internals of the steering rack. It didn’t bend an arm or anything.”

Having enjoyed a consistent and largely trouble-free weekend up until that point, Le Brocq was frustrated to be caught in the crossfire.

“Bit of a shame and a tough way to end what was a pretty solid weekend,” he said.

“I was trying to be a bit conservative but there has been so much craziness going on this weekend. There are a lot of cars torn up and silly stuff going.

“Our race pace was better than our quali pace and it was a shame we didn’t get a chance to use it in the final race.

“I feel like we could have pushed on to have a good race.”

However, the results showed that Le Brocq and Erebus are taking steps forward as both team and driver adjust to their new surroundings.

“The boys are doing a good job and I am getting more and more comfortable in the car,” he said.

“Just still adjusting to the new aero changes and how they are affecting the car, but we are having a bunch of fun doing it and that is the main thing.

“We will keep pressing on.”

Le Brocq and Erebus teammate Todd Hazelwood are heading across the ditch this week to inspect the new track at Taupo which will be round 3 on April 19-21.

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