Triple Eight’s Qualifying Challenges
Red Bull Ampol Racing experienced further difficulties in qualifying for Race 21 at the NTI Townsville 500. A strategic decision by Will Brown to forgo a second run in Q2 ultimately saw him drop significantly down the order. His teammate, Broc Feeney, also faced a challenging session, continuing a difficult run in qualifying.
Brown initially held provisional pole position during Q2. However, he opted not to complete a second run, a decision he later explained was aimed at preserving fresher tyres for the upcoming 200km race on Saturday. This choice meant he watched from the sidelines as other drivers improved their times.
The gamble did not pay off for Brown, who ended up in 12th position, nearly half a second off the fastest pace. He acknowledged that the plan was to secure a spot in the Top 10 Shootout while saving tyres, but this outcome did not materialise.
Feeney, who had recently lost the championship lead, qualified in 18th place. This followed a 16th-place qualifying effort for Race 20 the previous day, indicating ongoing struggles for the driver.
Strategic Decisions and Outcomes
Brown explained his reasoning for the tyre strategy, stating that using another set of tyres to get into the Shootout would leave him without new tyres for the Shootout itself. He suggested that qualifying around eighth, ninth, or tenth would use up valuable race tyres.
Despite the setback, Brown indicated that the team believed they were only a few positions worse off than if they had completed the final run. He expressed confidence in their ability to move up the order in the race, similar to their performance on Friday.
The qualifying session saw Matt Payne of Grove Racing secure provisional pole position, ahead of Brodie Kostecki from Dick Johnson Racing. Ryan Wood, driving for Walkinshaw TWG Racing, claimed third fastest after an engine change overnight.
Other notable performances included Cameron Waters of Tickford Racing in fourth, and James Golding from Blanchard Racing Team in fifth, despite overcoming a starter motor failure. The top ten also featured Thomas Randle, Rylan Gray, Aaron Cameron, Kai Allen, and Chaz Mostert.
Anton De Pasquale, driving a Chevrolet Camaro, finished 11th, narrowly missing out on the Top 10 Shootout by a very small margin.
Looking Ahead to Race 21
The qualifying results mean both Brown and Feeney will start further down the grid for Race 21. The race is scheduled to begin at 3:05 PM AEST and will cover a distance of 200km, featuring two refuelling stops.
The team will be aiming to replicate their previous race day performance where they managed to improve their positions from lower starting spots. The focus will now shift to race strategy and tyre management to climb through the field.
Brodie Kostecki ultimately secured pole position for Race 21, extending his lead for the 2026 Boost Mobile Pole Award with his sixth pole of the season. He narrowly beat Matt Payne in the Top Ten Shootout, with Thomas Randle securing third.
The qualifying session for Race 21 saw Kostecki top Q1, with both Brown and Feeney safely progressing to Q2, albeit with Feeney reporting issues with inside front locking.
In Q2, Brown’s initial fast time was eventually surpassed by several drivers, leading to his 12th place finish. Feeney finished last in Q2, placing him 18th on the grid for Race 21.
The Top Ten Shootout saw intense competition, with Kostecki’s daring lap securing him pole position, despite admitting he nearly crashed. Payne will start alongside him on the front row, with Randle in third.
The remaining top ten drivers for Race 21 are Wood, Waters, Cameron, Allen, Golding, Mostert, and Gray.
Source: supercars.com
