‘Tearing up’: Feeney claims elusive Supercars victory

Sebastian Tan |

Broc Feeney has broken his duck, storming to a first Gold Coast 500 Supercars victory.
Broc Feeney has broken his duck, storming to a first Gold Coast 500 Supercars victory.

Broc Feeney has declared that his dreams have come true after he ended his agonising wait for a Gold Coast 500 victory in the final race at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.

The Triple Eight Race Engineering star finished 6.9098 seconds ahead of the hard-chasing Brodie Kostecki in the 85-lap 250km race on Sunday.

The pole-sitter executed his plan to perfection to secure his first victory at his hometown grid after finishing second in both races last year.

By claiming the elusive win, the 24-year-old also guaranteed his place in the penultimate round of the Supercars finals series at Sandown in Melbourne.

Broc Feeney.
Broc Feeney roared around the Surfers Paradise street circuit to an impressive win. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

“Coming here as a kid … and watching Supercars with dad and the whole family, I remember going up and getting a photo with Jamie Whincup,” Feeney said.

“To be here 14 years later and standing on the top step of the podium is a dream come true.

“In the last lap, I nearly started tearing up … it’s the most daunting track on the calendar.”

While Feeney was experiencing pure elation, Matt Stone Racing’s Jack Le Brocq and Grove Racing’s Kai Allen were left in utter misery as their hopes of winning the championship were dashed.

Broc Feeney.
Broc Feeney didn’y take long to get the celebrations started on the Gold Coast. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

Only seven drivers were able to remain in the running for the title after Sunday, with the bottom three drivers in the top-10 rankings who failed to win one of the two Gold Coast races eliminated.

Allen and Le Brocq were ranked eighth and 10th going into the race but faced an uphill battle as they began 22nd and 20th on the grid.

Le Brocq’s afternoon worsened when he was forced to pit stop early, along with Anton De Pasquale, when both suffered tyre punctures following a collision.

But perhaps Walkinshaw TWG driver Ryan Wood will be more devastated after he started the day ranked ninth and needed a big result to keep his championship ambitions alive. 

Although he finished fourth, the seventh-ranked De Pasquale cleverly worked himself around his rivals to end the race in 14th, dashing the Kiwi’s hopes.

“Ryan’s just such a big talent … There’s going to be winners, there’s going to be losers and that’s the storylines that this format creates,” his teammate Chaz Mostert said.

“I’m super gutted for Woody because … the way he’s grown over the last 18 months … he helps take this team to the next level.”

Mostert, who won Saturday’s race, finished third as he overtook Wood on the last lap when the Kiwi realised he couldn’t make the finals, while non-finalist Andre Heimgartner secured fifth.

RACE 32 RESULTS: 

1. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering)

2. Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing)

3. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw TWG) 

4. Ryan Wood (Walkinshaw TWG Racing)

5. Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 

1. Matt Payne (Grove Racing)

2. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight)

3. Brodie Kostecki (DJR)

4. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw TWG Racing)

5. Will Brown (Triple Eight)

6. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing)

7. Anton De Pasquale (Team 18)

8. Ryan Wood (Walkinshaw TWG) 

9. Kai Allen (Grove)

10. Jack Le Brocq (Matt Stone Racing)

AAP