Supercars: Broc Feeney wins first race of 2024

Gold Coaster Broc Feeney has won the opening race of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship that included crashes, critical Safety Car entries and a loose wheel rolling down Mount Panorama.

It’s Feeney’s 7th career victory. He was followed across the finish line by his new Red Bull Ampol Racing Team Chevrolet Camaro teammate Will Brown.

Mobil 1 Optus Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang ace Chaz Mostert was denied a late charge to the front by a Safety Car, and settled for third to round out the first podium of the year.

The race was filled with incidents that only Mount Panorama can deliver, including a finish under Safety Car conditions, a crash on the opening corner and a loose wheel that rolled down Mount Panorama, that drivers had to steer clear of to avoid damage.

Monster Energy Ford Mustang driver Cam Waters lost his wheel mid-race at the famous Griffins Bend. The wheel then rolled back and potentially could’ve met with traffic, but the leaders were able to dodge the loose wheel before it came to a stop on the side of the circuit.

While Brown led early, Feeney took advantage of Safety Car stoppages with a different pit stop strategy to jump to the lead and never faded. Brown held on for second but it may have been a different story had the final bp pulse Safety Car not been called out.

On Lap 38 rookie Aaron Love had his second crash of the afternoon while Mostert was closing on Brown and Feeney. With the Safety Car called Mostert’s chase for the lead ended and Feeney led the field across the line.

The result makes it 16 season-opening race wins from the last 19 years for the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team. It was also Feeney’s first ever win at Mount Panorama after a number of heartbreaks in previous years.

“Great to be here, just a fantastic job by the team, to have two new cars this year, a new teammate, to come out 1-2 in qualifying and then the race today,” Feeney said.

“I’m pumped my first win on a Saturday so hopefully we can have a good one tomorrow and keep that rolling.

“I’ve had a pretty good run here, last weekend was pretty fun at the 12 Hour, for sure I feel like a needed a win to get me going again. Still hasn’t made up for it [the heartbreak of the 2023 Bathurst 1000] so we’ll be back here trying to chase that one again in October.

“P1, it’s a pretty awesome start to the year.”

Behind the top three was defending Repco Bathurst 1000 Champion Richie Stanaway on debut in his Penrite Mustang. Fifth was Matt Stone Racing’s Cameron Hill, the best result of his career.

Hill’s teammate Nick Percat was 6th ahead of Brad Jones Racing’s Bryce Fullwood, Team 18 debutant David Reynolds and the kiwi duo of Andre Heimgartner and Matt Payne who rounded out the top ten.

Rookie Jaxon Evans finished 20th, while the other two rookies in the field, Ryan Wood and Aaron Love both failed to finish. Love crashed out on Lap 38 and Wood crashed out on the opening corner.

Race Results