Triple Eight has 'homework' over Brown/Feeney gap

Will Brown extended lead over Broc Feeney from 71 to 136 points
Brown claimed podiums in both Perth races
Feeney 12th in Sunday qualifying, fifth and seventh in races

Unpacking the deficit between Will Brown and Broc Feeney in Perth was “homework” for Red Bull Ampol Racing, says Team Principal Jamie Whincup.

Brown extended his lead from 71 to 136 points over Feeney across the course of the Perth round, with Feeney forced to "limit the damage" with fifth and seventh in the races.

Brown, meanwhile, finished second and third, continuing his recent form over Feeney after emerging on top in their battle in New Zealand.

When asked where the deficit was, Whincup said in the post-race press conference: “We're not sure.

“We'll just go away and see where the deficits were and work out was it set-up, was it driver, was it a combination of both? We're not exactly sure.

“I think, mechanically, everything's identical, so that's just homework after the weekend.”

Brown was just one position and 0.0499s ahead of Feeney in the first qualifying session, with Fords locking out the top three. Come Sunday, and Feeney was only 12th.

Whincup shut down parity talk in the press conference, admitting Triple Eight just didn’t have the pace to overhaul Walkinshaw Andretti United and Tickford Racing.

“We're going alright, we just didn't quite have the pace this weekend,” Whincup said.

“Both crews did a very, very good job — had fast cars, and we maximised, so it was a solid weekend.

“Will was coming through and we elected to roll the dice with four tyres for each car, which meant you dropped back in the pack but gave yourself an opportunity.

“We were sort of praying for a Safety Car at the end there – we would have been in a much better position with a Safety Car – of course Chaz [Mostert, who was carrying a five-second time penalty] didn't want that.

“But, all in all, not much to report. We just didn't quite have enough pace.”

Triple Eight, along with other Queensland-based teams, is set to test at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday.

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 14-16. Tickets for the event are on sale now.