Triple Eight’s Darwin performance and championship shifts
Red Bull Ampol Racing is anticipated to respond after what has been described as an “unlike-T8 weekend” in Darwin. The reigning teams’ champions did not secure a podium finish at the betr Darwin Triple Crown, a venue where they previously held a dominant record. This outcome allowed Penrite Racing to take the lead in the teams’ championship, marking the first time the Grove squad has led an event.
Broc Feeney, who entered the Darwin event as a strong favourite following five consecutive wins at Hidden Valley and a recent victory in Tasmania, surprisingly did not achieve a single podium finish. This shift in performance had a direct impact on the drivers’ standings, with Matt Payne reducing Feeney’s lead from 90 to 15 points.
Despite the significant points reduction, Payne expressed caution about suggesting a prolonged slump for Triple Eight. He noted that while he had been monitoring the championship points, he was aware that he had outperformed Feeney in every race during the weekend, which contributed to closing the gap. Payne acknowledged the proximity of the standings but also highlighted that three rounds remain in the competition.
Payne believes that Triple Eight will likely regain their form, characterising their Darwin weekend as an unusual one given their historical performance. He stated that his team capitalised on the situation while they could, but acknowledged the uncertainty of future rounds. Both Feeney and Payne have previous wins at the Reid Park venue, with Feeney winning the final two races of last year’s NTI Townsville 500, and Payne also being a former winner there.
Internal dynamics at Red Bull Ampol Racing
Within Red Bull Ampol Racing, the Darwin event also highlighted an internal dynamic between teammates Will Brown and Broc Feeney. Despite the team’s overall struggle to reach the podium, Brown achieved a personal milestone by outperforming Feeney in all three races in Darwin. This marked the first time since the Sydney 2024 round that Brown had beaten Feeney in every start at a multi-race event.
Brown’s finishes were fifth, fifth, and fourth, while Feeney placed 14th, seventh, and fifth. A critical moment occurred in the finale where Feeney was positioned ahead of Brown, but a late Safety Car incident led to what was described as a team orders fumble for Triple Eight.
Since joining Triple Eight in 2024, Brown has generally been outperformed by Feeney, with the exception of his championship win. Across six rounds, Feeney holds a 14-5 lead in qualifying head-to-head and a 13-5 lead in race head-to-head encounters. While Brown had previously beaten Feeney in every race at the Taupō, Perth, and Sydney rounds in 2024, Feeney had subsequently finished ahead in Tasmania, Darwin, Townsville, Gold Coast (2025), Sydney, and Tasmania (2026).
Brown noted an improvement in his performance in Darwin, feeling sharper in his Ford Mustang. He commented on the team’s progress in achieving more consistent results, particularly in qualifying and racing within the top 10. He also highlighted stronger race pace, which allowed him to contend more effectively. Brown drew a comparison to the previous year, where he felt the team was strong and capable of moving through the field, emphasising the need to build on this momentum.
Mark Winterbottom, a 2015 Supercars champion, observed Brown’s strong performance against Feeney throughout the weekend, noting that Brown effectively beat Feeney until Sunday. Winterbottom also mentioned that Feeney faced issues with braking instability during the event, which may have hindered his performance.
Looking ahead to Townsville
Stephen Grove, the team boss for Penrite Racing, echoed Payne’s sentiments, suggesting that his squad’s current form would likely motivate Triple Eight to intensify their efforts. Grove emphasised the importance of his team continuing to work hard and push forward, making it clear that they are not getting ahead of themselves despite leading the teams’ championship. He views the championship lead as a positive, as it encourages both his team and Triple Eight to strive for better performance.
Brown’s current focus is on advancing in the championship standings. He aims to move into the top five, acknowledging that the points gap is not substantial for achieving this goal. He highlighted upcoming events like Bathurst and The Bend as opportunities to gain significant points. Brown has secured only two podiums in 19 starts, a record that has been worse only for Feeney in 2022 and Jamie Whincup in 2006 for Triple Eight over the last 20 years.
The next track action for the Supercars season will commence in Townsville on Friday, July 10, with the NTI Townsville 500 scheduled from July 10-12.
Source: supercars.com
