Brown and Feeney reflect on ‘awesome’ battle for glory

The final race of the Taupo Super400 turned into a battle for supremacy between Triple Eight teammates Will Brown and Broc Feeney and it was the newcomer, who emerged on top in the “race of my life.”

With the two Triple Eight Camaros 14s up the road from their nearest rivals, all eyes were on Feeney and Brown.

After the final stops Feeney emerged with a 2s advantage over Brown, but it was the #87 that had greater pace in the final stint.

Within five laps the pair were nose to tail and the Toowoomba driver started examining the rear of the #88.

However, Feeney had his elbows out and resisted multiple challenges at turns 5 and 11 after the best part of 10 laps of cat and mouse.

But Brown’s patience finally paid off on Lap 52 when he threw the Camaro over the Turn 4, which opened up a dive at the following right hander.

The #87 muscled its way past to snatch the lead at Turn 5 and end a battle for the ages in Taupo.

To add a cherry on top, Brown completed his special drive from as low as fifth in the first stint by driving away from Feeney and winning by 3.3s.

The Toowoomba was buzzing so much after overcoming his teammate he claimed it was the “race of his life” even better than his famous maiden win at SMP in 2021 when he somehow kept two charging Bulls of Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen at bay.

“You are always keen to get past but it was an awesome race,” Brown said.

“It was hard to make the pass because there were not a heap of passing opportunities and I had to set it up.

“I got stuck there for a while so I was getting hot tyres so I just got it done and lucky we didn’t run into each other.

“We might have touched once but apart from that it was awesome racing and was the best race of my life.”

Brown expanded more on the back and forth nature of the thrilling arm wrestle with Feeney.

“I think I bumped him once accidentally and he held a bit of brake to make out I bumped him a bit harder,” he continued.

“It was bloody hard not to make contact because with the tyre life I had I was so much faster mid corner, I was waiting a long time.

“I just worked him a little bit out of turn 9 because I was getting a better run and putting him in the marbles into turn 11.

“He said I knew what you were doing and he was smart enough to dive for the apex at turn 5 and also turn 11 so I was sort of snookered because he had a good drive off 11 and I couldn’t go wide and switch him back.

“I got him was a good move but I locked the rears and thought ‘don’t put him in the wall’ and I don’t think I breathed the whole way in.

“Even though I was a long way, I was able to get the better drive.

“I did not know what the racing would be like so to come here and have such a great battle for the lead was great.”

Whilst Feeney was disappointed to finish second best, he thoroughly enjoyed the contest and was pleased to be back at the point end after a tough time in the Saturday rain.

“It was a great turnaround from Saturday,” he said.

“To stick it on the front row after the shootout and lead the majority of the race was pretty cool. I obviously would have preferred to win, but it wasn’t meant to be and we weren’t the fastest car today. 

“I had a pretty cool battle with Will and had lots of fun – congratulations to him on an epic win. On the #88 side of the garage, we have a bit of work to do to make that little step forward to be just as quick as the #87. 

“You do have to be careful because if we come together there would be big ramifications but we raced as hard as we could, being super respectful not rubbing panels all the time against someone I trust like Will.” 

Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

Taupo Super400 schedule (all times AEST)

Friday, April 19

Practice: 1: C. Mostert 1:26.4937 2: M. Payne +0.0318 3: W. Davison +0.0508

Saturday, April 20

Qualifying Race 7: 1: M. Payne 1:27.9684 2: A. De Pasquale +0.0940 3: C. Mostert +0.1669

Top 10 Shootout: 1: C. Waters 1:34.7415 2: W. Brown +0.5011 3: A. Heimgartner +0.5374

Race 7 (60 laps): 1: A. Heimgartner 2: W. Davison +1.1012 3: A. De Pasquale +2.5641

Sunday, April 21

Qualifying Race 8: 1: A. De Pasquale 2: C. Mostert +0.0272 3: W. Brown +0.0292 

Top 10 Shootout: 1: M. Payne 1:26.8173 2: B. Feeney +0.0126 3: B. Kostecki +0.0306

Race 8 (60 laps): 1: W. Brown 2: B. Feeney +3.3585 3: A. De Pasquale +14.2612

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