Feeney’s crucial role in teams' title fight

Broc Feeney has ample reason to make an impression on his Surfers Paradise debut.

The Gold Coast-based driver is in position to be part of a teams’ championship in his rookie season.

Red Bull Ampol Racing is on the cusp of an 11th teams’ championship title.

It means Jamie Whincup could have a drivers' title, teams' title and Bathurst win all in his first year in charge.

Shane van Gisbergen’s record 19 wins have been the lynchpin, but Feeney’s consistency has also played a key role.

The rookie, who turned 20 on Tuesday, has scored 23 top 10 finishes in 30 starts.

Had he not been turned by Andre Heimgartner at Sandown, he would be on a run of 13 straight top 10s.

With Will Davison crashing out in Bathurst, Feeney is just 106 points from fifth in the points.

He is also 231 points behind third-placed Anton De Pasquale.

With 600 points remaining, Feeney is armed with a chance to secure the highest finish by a rookie since Craig Lowndes in 1996.

While that is far from his mind, Feeney was excited to have complemented van Gisbergen’s run with a stellar run of his own.

“The teams’ championship is massive for us,” Feeney told Supercars.com.

"We’ve done a great job to put a big gap on those behind.

“I’ve been pretty close to the DJR boys over the last few rounds.

“Now to be just 100-odd points off Davo and so close to the top five is cool.

“But the fact we’re going to what is my home race… I’m so pumped.

“I’m so keen to race at home, sleep in my own bed, wander to the track in the morning.

Feeney finished fifth in Bathurst

“It’s going to be special, and it’s up to us to bring it home on the weekend.”

Feeney is the only driver on the grid who has no prior Supercars experience on the Surfers streets.

What’s more is he and his rivals will have to tackle dual 250km races.

The longest solo races prior to next weekend’s event were the 150km-long races in 2009.

While more familiar with the Gold Coast than some, Feeney knows his track debut won’t be a Sunday drive.

“For sure it’s going to be hard,” he said of the format.

“It used to be two 300km races for two drivers, now it’s two 250km races for one driver.

“Fortunately it’s coming off Bathurst, which was also a long, hard day.

“Hopefully the body’s race fit so we can rip in for 250km around there."