Vaughan not giving up on Super2 title

Brad Vaughan knows better than most that it’s not over until it’s over, with the Tickford Racing rising star not giving up on this year's Super2 title amid a mixed start to 2024.

The 20-year-old driver is 189 points behind leader Kai Allen after the first two rounds, with 1200 points still to win in the final four rounds.

Vaughan is one of eight drivers with a race podium to his name already this season, and one of three pole-sitter alongside Allen and Cooper Murray.

The Barossa Valley driver’s 2024 has already been a rollercoaster, with Vaughan finishing third for the round in Bathurst despite fighting ill health.

Come Perth, and a starter motor robbed Vaughan of another chance at a top three, before he rebounded on Sunday morning with pole position.

However, a false start penalty in the finale saw pole become fourth, with Zach Bates taking the race and round win.

“The speed's been there, the luck hasn't been, unfortunately,” Vaughan told Supercars.com.

“The pace was there in Perth to have a good result. Unfortunately, that starter motor put an end to that. But, those troubles are behind us.

"We've got Townsville coming up, so hopefully it's a better one.”

Vaughan famously beat Allen to the Super3 title in 2022 after the latter crashed out in the final race of the season.

When asked if he believes he can still win this year’s Super2 crown, Vaughan replied: “It's not over ’til it's over. I learned that when I won the Super3 title in the last race.

“So, it's definitely not over, but some things have to go our way. Even then, we're not even halfway through the championship yet, so there's a long way to go.

“Right now, like everyone else, I'm just going to have to beat that Kai Allen bloke."

Townsville has been a mixed bag for Vaughan, who won the Super3 opener in 2022, before his 2023 weekend got off to a rocky start after a crash with Jack Perkins in qualifying.

Vaughan was disqualified and fined over the incident, but he recovered to finish 12th and fourth in the races, and seventh for the round.

On this occasion, Vaughan is determined to get qualifying right to give himself the best chance to reach victory lane in Super2 for the first time.

“It is a bit of a hard track to pass, Townsville, so qualifying's very important,” he said.

“There's been some pretty crazy races up there, I remember my Super3 year, there were some very hectic start-line crashes and exciting races.

“It’s Super2, you just don’t know what's gonna happen. But if you qualify at the front, it makes a difference.”

Dunlop Series action in Townsville commences with two practice sessions on Friday.