Feeney's 'bucket list' sacrifice for Supercars title dream
Supercars
08 Mar
Broc Feeney opts out of Spa, Indy races to focus on Supercars
Feeney part of Triple EIght's IGTC plans in 2024
Rising star nine points from Supercars series lead after Round 1
Broc Feeney has knocked back the lure of Spa-Francorchamps and Indianapolis to focus on chasing the Supercars crown in 2024.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing star, who won Race 1 at the Thrifty Bathurst 500, is also part of Triple Eight’s GT plans this year.
Feeney was initially part of Triple Eight's plans to contest the the 24 Hours of Spa and the Indianapolis 8 Hour, which are part of Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC).
However, in a bid to chase Supercars championship glory with Triple Eight, he has opted against being available for both races, which fall a week before a Supercars weekend.
The Spa race is a week before the NTI Townsville 500 in July, while the Indy race is just before the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Feeney has already been rolled out in the IGTC, at last month’s Repco Bathurst 12 Hour alongside new teammate Will Brown and international ace Mikaël Grenier, finishing sixth.
Triple Eight's IGTC programme will be run with Johor Motorsports Racing, with Mercedes-AMG junior Jordan Love to race at Spa and Indy.
“I haven't really spoken about it openly, but I was locked in for [the IGTC], so the [Bathurst] 12 Hour I was in the Pro car and then Spa 24 and Indy 8 Hour,” Feeney said on The Driver's Seat radio show.
“For me, it's very exciting to have these opportunities to race in them with Triple Eight, but I had to come to myself and have a really good think about it this year.
“My 100 percent focus is always Supercars, and I feel this year more than ever.
“I've knocked back to do those races, I've told them I don't want to do Spa 24 and Indy 8 Hour just because it falls a week before Townsville and the Bathurst 1000.
“Everyone I talk to is like, ‘oh my god, are you serious? You're turning down these events?'. But I'm trying to be a bit more mature about it.”
Feeney left the Thrifty Bathurst 500 just nine points behind Brown, marking his best start to a Supercars season.
Should 2024 go to plan, Feeney intends to be available for the international races should the opportunity present itself next year.
The 21-year-old is no stranger to racing overseas, notably competing with Triple Eight in Asian GT races towards the end of 2023.
“I spoke to everyone at the team. I sort of go, I believe I'm in a position where in a couple of years, or next year, I will be able to go and do these races,” he continued.
"I feel like the opportunity will still be there. So, I'm trying to take it in as much as I can this year to really focus on Supercars.
“It was a hard one. These are bucket list races that I could have done. But I feel I've made the right decision.
“Obviously I'm going to be kicking myself watching it on TV. But I couldn't live with myself if I had shocker the next weekend.
“Racing on the other side of the planet, there is a lot of complications that come with it. So I think I've mad the right decision.”
Feeney's 2024 Supercars campaign will continue at the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint on March 21-24.
