Brown splits rising open-wheel stars in impressive return

Will Brown has impressed in his first open-wheel race in nearly six years, with the Supercars champion finishing splitting two rising stars to finish second in Taupō.

Brown came home second to local rising star Zack Scoular in the first Toyota Formula Regional Oceania race of the season on Saturday afternoon.

The 10-time Supercars race winner qualified second for Race 1 at Taupō, and was 2.069s from victory behind Scoular by race's end.

Brown did, however, beat Red Bull junior and Formula 3 race winner Arvid Lindblad to the second step of the podium, by just 1.092s.

It continues a bright start to the Queenslander’s first of three New Zealand open-wheel cameos, with Brown no worse than eighth across Friday’s three practice sessions.

Brown was already no stranger to Taupō, having won the second ever Supercars race at the venue last April following a blockbuster battle with Triple Eight Race Engineering teammate Broc Feeney.

The 26-year-old will contest two more races on Sunday, before racing at Hampton Downs and Highlands, as well as the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, before the Supercars season starts in Sydney.

Tickets for the opening round of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23, are on sale now.