The trophy goal in Le Brocq's sights

Jack Le Brocq believes silverware is “around the corner” for Matt Stone Racing, but is keeping his expectations in check despite his fast start to 2023.

The Gen3 changes have come at a good time for Le Brocq, who between 2018 and 2022, recorded just 21 top 10 finishes.

After two rounds in 2023, Le Brocq has five top 10 finishes from six starts and is ninth in the drivers’ championship.

In six starts, Le Brocq’s result read ninth, eighth, eighth, sixth, DNF and fifth.

Le Brocq’s perfect record this season has just one blemish — he crashed out of Race 4 in Melbourne, but had already dropped down the order after a poor pit stop.

Prior to his stop, Le Brocq was running in 10th, which would have kept his streak alive.

Regardless, Le Brocq has helped MSR into contention, with the team not only chasing its first win, but first podium.

Having battled through 2022 with old machinery, Le Brocq has burst out of the blocks and is eyeing trophies — but is keeping a lid on his expectations.

“Last year when I came here, was building for Gen3,” Le Brocq told Supercars.com.

“The car we had last year was older, it’d been racing for years and years.

“If we can keep doing what we’re doing, I think there are podiums and a potential win around the corner.

“Baby steps, don’t want to set the expectations too high, but this Gen3 car has been a good shake-up for us.”

Le Brocq’s 2022, his first with MSR, was littered with poor luck and a lack of car speed.

Come 2023, and the 30-year-old has been reborn and has made his #34 Truck Assist Camaro a fixture of the top 10.

This time last year, Le Brocq was 24th in the standings and had just 129 points to his name. After two rounds in 2023, he is 15 positions and 196 points better off.

Le Brocq saved his best for last in Melbourne, racing his rebuilt Chevrolet to fifth in the finale — his first top five since 2020, and MSR’s equal best result ever.

Given the team’s upswing in form, Le Brocq said he is in the best mindset since he made his full-time debut in 2018.

“They’re racers — pure and simple,” Le Brocq said.

“When we go to the race track, we want to go fast, we want to win races and keep getting results.

“For myself mentally, it’s the most fun — I’m in the best mindset because of that. It’s an awesome group of guys and girls to go away racing with.

“It’s proving through the results we’re getting. We’ve just got to keep it going."

Le Brocq is 189 points behind series leader Brodie Kostecki heading to this month's round in Perth.

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