Brown: I feel like more of a champion after Adelaide comeback

Newly-minted Repco Supercars Championship winner Will Brown says his stunning charge to victory in Race 24 was the perfect way to end his historic maiden season at Red Bull Ampol Racing.

Having started in fourth, Brown was running third after the sole Safety Car restart of the race, before being spun by former teammate Brodie Kostecki at Turn 7 on lap 9.

Brown was forced to flick spin the #87 Camaro in the escape area, and was demoted all the way back to 22nd as a result, only ahead of a damaged Matt Payne, who was three laps down after crashing at Turn 11.

What followed was one of the most extraordinary drives ever seen at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit, as Brown carved his way through the pack to be back inside the top 10 by lap 29.

Brown's charge would continue at a blistering pace, climbing up into an podium position on lap 57 after teammate Broc Feeney was pinged for an unsafe release in pit lane.

The battle for the lead would then boil over when Feeney spun Chaz Mostert into the wall on lap 63, with Feeney being slapped with another penalty and Mostert badly wounded for the final 15 laps.

Whilst that would ultimately hand the win to Brown, it took nothing away from an extraordinary drive that has parallels with Shane van Gisbergen's charge from 17th to victory at Sandown in 2021.

"I feel like a bit more of a champion after that drive, that was awesome," Brown said.

"I can't believe we got turned around, I probably turned in on Brodie there, and I thought that was our day done, so we'll go out and have some fun. I never thought we were going to win there.

"To win that, bad luck to Broc, I don't know what happened there, but it's an awesome way to end the year, that was a stellar race.

"It's been a hard year, it's been stressful, and it's been extremely competitive. There were a lot of guys who were probably deserving as well, but to win it this year is amazing.

"[It hasn't quite sunk in] yet, but I'm sure it will sink in tonight when we're having some fun."

The 26-year-old also paid tribute to the efforts of race engineer Andrew Edwards after his Sunday victory, with the former Brad Jones Racing engineer continuing to enhance his reputation as one of the sport's leading engineers.

It is Edwards' second title in three seasons with Triple Eight, having been on the headset's for Shane van Gisbergen's extraordinary 21-win season in 2022.

"It's been amazing, you can see why he's the top engineer," Brown said.

"He did an amazing job this year just coaching me on tyre life, keeping calm, and consistency, and we worked on that so much through the off-season, and we came out and showed it this year."

Having entered the 2024 season off the back of what was a career-best season with Erebus Motorsport last season, Brown was something of an unknown quantity replacing van Gisbergen.

However, the foundations for what would prove a historically consistent season were laid well in advance of any wheels turning in anger, with Brown going on to become the first driver in 40 years to claim a podium at every event of an Australian Touring Car Championship season.

"I've been very consistent this year, I wanted to get more race wins, but there's nothing better than winning the last one," Brown said.

"Thanks to Andrew, he did an amazing job last year, all my crew, Broc's crew, the whole team at Red Bull Ampol Racing have been amazing, thanks to everyone there.

"We'll have a bit of an off-season and come back again."

Brown will commence his title defence when the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship kicks off at the Sydney 500 on February 21-23. Tickets for the event are on sale now.