Feeney wary of Gold Coast kerb hop drama
Broc Feeney wary of Gold Coast kerb hop drama
Drivers at risk of losing lap times, penalties over kerb strikes
Title contenders caught out in Shootouts last year
Triple Eight star Broc Feeney says he can’t afford to get stung by kerb hops as championship race heats up at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
The infamous chicanes at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit will be a major talking point across the weekend, as drivers push the limits.
Electronic timing loops are embedded in the circuit at Turn 2 and the beach chicane to police kerb hopping, with big names caught out last year.
Notably, title combatants Brodie Kostecki and Shane van Gisbergen were both pinged in Top Ten Shootouts, relegating them to the back of the 10.
In practice and qualifying, either a hop or chicane cut results in the lap time being deleted. In a race, drivers have an allowance of kerb strikes, with cuts set to be treated differently to prevent drivers using it to their advantage.
Feeney, who has qualified no better than 11th and has a grid average of 15.0 in four attempts on the Gold Coast, knows he has to get it right if he stands any chance at the title.
“Qualifying is key around here. Unfortunately, last year I pretty much tipped every kerb sensor that was in the joint,” said Feeney, who recently said he is desperate to overturn his "suboptimal" Gold Coast form.
"I think there's a few discussions around that this weekend, but look, I think we're going to be fast here this weekend.
"We still had speed last year, we just didn't put it together. But as I said, qualify up the front, I think you can stay there for the race.”
Will Brown is in the box seat for the championship, sitting 204 points clear of teammate Feeney at the top. Chaz Mostert is third, 225 points down, with Cam Waters a mathematical, albeit faint, chance in fourth. The mind games are already underway, Mostert and Brown both jabbing Brown in the media.
Feeney is carrying plenty of confidence after comprehensively outpacing Brown in Bathurst. But for now, he’s thinking wins, not championship.
“I've got plenty of confidence coming here this weekend,” Feeney said.
“I suppose for me now, it's probably not so much about the championship, it's to try and win races.
“Look, I want to go into the last round with a shot. At the moment, I'm probably a little bit of a long shot. So for me, it's about focusing on race wins.
"I think if we can have a good solid weekend, we'll still be in the fight going to Adelaide. Between myself, Will and Chaz, it's been super close this year.
"We're all fighting for a championship at the moment. We’re all good mates, but once we get the helmets on, we all want the same thing.
"There's going to be nothing stupid coming out. We're all going to race very hard, but whoever ends up on the top step will be deserving at the end of the day."
On track action at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 begins on Friday with two 40-minute practice sessions. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
