Wood leads as Brown spins
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 11 July 2025
Ryan Wood has pipped Broc Feeney in a tight opening Townsville 500 Supercars practice, where Will Brown found trouble.
The 30-minute session was a two-horse race between Wood and Feeney as they shared stints in the lead throughout before the WAU Kiwi jumped 0.0783s clear with a 1:13.6345 on green tyres.
However, the big story surrounded the sister Triple Eight Camaro as Brown lost his rear wing after a spin coming out of Turn 2.
On his final push lap, the reigning champion appeared to clip the outside wall, which sent the #1 the wrong way around.
It was a dramatic ending to an otherwise clean opening session.
A busy Friday began with half an hour of practice under overcast skies, and the full field rolled straight out of the pits.
Feeney picked up from where he left off, being the only 1m14s driver across the opening runs.
His teammate Brown is the only driver within three-tenths.
A host of drivers joined the #88 on their second las with Wood leading the charge, being the first to snatch the lead with a 1:14.0008
Le Brocq first 1m13s lap despite even giving Stanaway a nudge coming out of the final corner
The session soon turned into an arm wrestle between Wood and Feeney as they took turns at the top.
As they were two-tenths clear of the rest, led by Allen, just 0.0474s split the top two.
The WAU Kiwi was able to emerge on top on fresh tyres as he improved the benchmark to a 1:13.6345 on the final lap of the opening run.
Across the mid-part of the session, De Pasquale and Mostert were able to knock Allen out of the top three, but could not challenge the leaders.
Drivers stayed out of trouble until the 18-minute mark when Andre Heimgartner locked up and went wide at Turn 11.
Erebus rookie Murray also ran wide at the Turn 7-8 chicane.
All eyes focused on Waters as he struggled in the search for speed.
After a long stint in the pits he could only get as high as 21st.
But the biggest drama occurred after the chequered flag was waved when Brown lost his rear wing.
Brown appeared to lose control coming out of Turn 2 and collided the inside wall after a spin.
Triple Eight managing director Jamie Whincup suggested it could have been caused by Brown trying to get readjusted to right-hand-side drive after taking on NASCAR last weekend.
However, Brown denied that being the case.
“I did not find it too bad to be honest,” he said.
“It is a very easy place to do it where I did.
“I had a bit of a slide and just clipped the fence.
“Luckily, it did minimal damage compared to what it could have been.
“We will be fine. It is disappointing for the crew, but I feel really comfortable in the car.”
Teams have just over an hour before another crack at practice.
Results to come
Image: Mark Horsburgh
2025 Townsville 500
FRIDAY 11th July
9:20am – 9:50am: Supercars Practice 1
11:10am – 11:40am: Supercars Practice 2
1:20pm – 1:50pm: Qualifying, Race 20 (Fox only)
3:40pm: Race 20 (35 laps/100kms) (Fox only)
SATURDAY 12th July
10:00am – 10:30am: Qualifying, Race 21 (Fox only)
12:05pm – 12:40pm: Top Ten Shootout, Race 21 (Fox/Seven)
3:00pm: Race 21 (70 laps/200kms) (Fox/Seven)
SUNDAY 13th July
10:00am – 10:30am: Qualifying, Race 22 (Fox only)
12:05pm – 12:40pm: Top Ten Shootout, Race 22 (Fox/Seven)
3:00pm: Race 22 (70 laps/200kms)(Fox/Seven)
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