TIPSLIFEHACKS

Brodie Feeney has fronted up to a costly error at the Repco Supercars Championship's Ipswich SuperSprint, admitting he 'threw away a race win' after a critical mistake during Race 24. The Triple Eight Race Engineering driver found himself second across the line behind teammate Will Brown, a result he acknowledged was largely self-inflicted.

The drama unfolded during the pit stop phase after Feeney was penalised for a jump start. While the penalty itself wasn't insurmountable, the execution of the stop proved disastrous. A slow response and subsequent issues allowed Brown to undercut him, ultimately costing Feeney the lead and the victory.

“It’s pretty frustrating, to be honest,” Feeney said after the race. “I felt like I had a good gap there, and then I just sort of threw it away. It’s disappointing, but we’ll learn from it and move on.

“I jumped the start, which wasn’t ideal, and then the pit stop just wasn’t clean. We’ve got to be better than that. Will drove a great race, and he deserved the win, but I know I could have had it too if things had gone my way.”

The jump start penalty, a harsh but necessary call from the race officials, added an extra layer of complexity to Feeney's race. He was forced to serve a time penalty during his pit stop, which initially appeared manageable given his lead at the time. However, the subsequent issues in the pit box magnified the impact of the penalty, allowing Brown to capitalise and snatch the lead.

This result marks a setback for Feeney in the championship standings. He had been enjoying a strong run of form prior to Ipswich, consistently challenging for race wins and podium finishes. While the championship battle is far from over, this error serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins that separate victory and defeat in Supercars racing.

Triple Eight Race Engineering will undoubtedly be conducting a thorough review of the pit stop procedure to identify areas for improvement. With several races remaining in the season, Feeney and the team will be keen to ensure such errors are minimised moving forward. The team’s focus now shifts to the next event, where Feeney will be determined to bounce back and regain his momentum in the championship fight.

The race highlighted the intense rivalry within the Triple Eight camp, with both Feeney and Brown demonstrating impressive pace and racecraft. It also underscored the importance of consistency and precision in Supercars racing, where even the smallest mistake can have significant consequences. Feeney’s honest assessment of his performance reflects a maturity beyond his years, and a determination to learn from this valuable experience.