Brown playing long game after career-best start

Will Brown is in for the long haul in 2023 after his best start to a Supercars season to date.

After two rounds in 2023, Brown is fifth in the standings and 131 points from the championship lead.

It could have been even better had Brown not spun out of the Albert Park finale while battling erstwhile leader Chaz Mostert.

Brown picked up damage to his #9 Coca-Cola Camaro while battling Mostert for the Race 6 lead, and was classified 23rd.

The incident cost Brown an estimated 40 points and possible victory, with teammate Brodie Kostecki taking the lead from Mostert with third.

Kostecki has started 2023 the stronger of the two, having taken two wins and two ARMOR ALL Pole Positions.

However, Brown had been a model of consistency prior to his Race 6 error with results of fourth, 13th, third, sixth and third.

Despite the costly mistake, Brown is well and truly in title contention heading to Perth, where he scored his maiden Super2 victory in 2019.

After two rounds in 2021, Brown was 15th and 345 points from the lead. In 2022, he was eighth and 246 points behind.

While disappointed by the Melbourne mistake, Brown has not only moved on, but is conscious that there’s a long way to go as he guns for the top.

“I’d love to say I hate Chaz and it was his fault, but it just wasn’t,” Brown joked to Supercars.com.

“He raced well and I made a mistake. He switched me back, and I thought I’d leave a little bit of room.

“The Grand Prix circuit was slipperier than I expected, I thought I’d run around the outside and be on the inside for the next corner.

“Lost it all by myself — completely my fault but I’ll learn from it and try not to make that mistake again.

“That would’ve been another win for Erebus and Coca-Cola, so really disappointed in myself — but it’s a long championship.

“I’ll build on it, I won’t dwell on it — just get onto the next round.”

Between Kostecki and Brown are Mostert, Shane van Gisbergen — who has won two races — and the ever consistent Andre Heimgartner.

Brown has played a key role in Kostecki's lead

Erebus has strength in numbers, with Brown playing ultimate wingman for Kostecki in Melbourne as he fought off van Gisbergen.

To Perth, Erebus Motorsport leads Red Bull Ampol Racing by 101 points thanks to Kostecki and Brown’s form, an achievement not lost on Brown as the team aims for more wins.

“For me and Brodie to be leading the teams’ championship is awesome,” Brown said.

“We’ve sort of got that flow-on effect going. Hopefully we can building on that throughout the year, and keep the ball rolling.

“We’re obviously going to Perth trying to win races, but all of this year is an unknown.

“It's just about building on it, putting our best foot forward, and doing the best job me Brodie and I can as drivers.

"I can’t tell you what’s going to happen there, but we’ll try our hardest to win races."

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint on April 28-30.