Championship leader Feeney bounces back with win

Broc Feeney has put Triple Eight back on the Supercars winners’ list after an impressive drive in a drama-packed 70-lap race at Reid Park in Townsville, in Far North Queensland.

The Championship points leader put a tricky Friday in the rear-view mirror, placing his Chevrolet Camaro third on the grid and taking control of the race after the first of two mandatory pitstops.

“The turnaround from this team overnight has been fantastic,” Feeney said after the 21st win of his Supercars career.

“That first one after the SC, I just got Davey [Reynolds] and I can’t thank them enough. Chaz was really fast in that second stint and I just tried to match him in the end. This thing was a rocket and it looked after its tyres better than I thought.”

Second place was decided only after a strong multi-car battle, and went in favour of Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert after a stunning drive through the field. A difficult qualifying session, in which he ran off the track on his best lap, put him in 17th, but as soon as he cleared a lap-1 melee he immediately gained ground, aided by aggressive pit strategy. He broke into the top five with 30 laps remaining and kept going, coming home 6.42s behind Feeney.

“The car was a rocket. Starting 18th, finishing second today? I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said, after managing a power-steering problem for much of the race.

“Something tweaked at the start and it felt a little bit heavy from the word ‘go’. It just got gradually worse, it goes light then heavy. I just tried to hang on the best I could.”

Third place went to Matt Payne, who underlined Friday’s elevation to second in the standings by taking a second podium finish of the weekend in the Grove Racing Ford.

“We struggled with the car a little bit, it’s not quite right for the balance we want,” he said. “But I am happy to hang on to third.

“I managed to control the race at the start but ultimately, we didn’t have the pace. But it’s okay.”

Fourth place went to Will Brown, who was the fastest driver on the track from mid-race, but whose winning chances were ended by a five-second penalty after making contact with Will Davison earlier in the race. After he somewhat settled his recent qualifying problems by starting from eighth, he charged late to make ground but could only get as high as fourth place.

Brodie Kostecki, Dick Johnson Racing

Photo by: Dick Johnson Racing

Brodie Kostecki failed to capitalise on his Friday pace, his Dick Johnson Racing Ford dropping back as the stints unfolded as other drivers looked to have better tyre performance. Anton De Pasquale took sixth for Team 18, but only after a challenge from fellow Chevrolet driver Jack Le Brocq, who chased him all the way to the flag.

Ryan Wood, like his WAU teammate Mostert, had a qualifying nightmare. From 24th and last on the grid, the youngster steadily picked his way through the field to eighth place – a 16-position gain.

The other former points leader to suffer a tough Saturday was Tickford Racing’s Cam Waters, who started a lowly 21st and, after he made contact with his Tickford Racing team-mate Thomas Randle on the opening lap, spun through a full 360 degrees and resumed last. After two pitstops for repairs and a five-second time penalty for a pitlane infringement, Waters soldiered on to 20th place.

With the win, Feeney moves to 1639 points, a lead of 201 over Payne, who has 1438. Brown remains third on 1429, from Waters (1246) and Mostert (1157). Kostecki is sixth on 1073 and De Pasquale has moved up to seventh on 902.

The Supercars teams and drivers will return to the Townsville circuit on Sunday at 10:05am AET, for qualifying ahead of the 22nd race of the championship. The Top 10 Shoot Out is scheduled for 12:05pm and the 70-lap race is due to start at 3:00pm.

Supercars Townsville – Race 2 results