Brown finds relief after post-Bathurst surgery
Will Brown underwent back surgery after the Repco Bathurst 1000
Brown returned to Supercar 18 days after surgery on the Gold Coast
Erebus driver third in opening practice on Friday morning
Will Brown says he has found instant relief following back surgery ahead of this weekend’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
The Erebus Motorsport driver underwent a disectomy the day after the Repco Bathurst 1000, where he finished eighth with Jack Perkins.
The 25-year-old had been battling back pain all year, contributed to led pain. Post-surgery, Brown has undergone intense physiotherapy in a bid to get fit for the Gold Coast round.
Just 18 days after going under the knife, Brown returned to the seat of his #9 Coca-Cola Camaro and set the third fastest in opening practice on Friday morning.
Brown is a mathematical chance to take out the 2023 championship, being 390 points behind Erebus teammate Brodie Kostecki.
While Kostecki is well up the road with 600 points remaining, Brown will stay play a key role in both championships, with Erebus leading Triple Eight by 179 points.
“I’m just excited to be here racing,” he said on the broadcast after Practice 1 at Surfers Paradise.
“It’s not back to 100 per cent, the actual wound where they’ve cut, but I’ve definitely relieved a lot of that pain down my leg.
“Not 100 per cent, but it’s still a lot better than what it was, pretty happy about that.”
Brown and his rivals were unable to get much of a read of the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit on Friday morning as showers passed over the Gold Coast.
Scott Pye (#20 Hino Camaro) and Cam Waters (#6 Monster Energy Mustang) were just up the road from Brown, with the session declared early due to track debris and resultant repairs.
“Obviously it was spitting a little bit, but the track feels good, the cars are taking the kerbs nicely, actually,” said Brown, the winner of four races in 2023.
“It’s just Gold Coast, smashing over the kerbs and having a lot of fun. The car felt pretty good, so we’ll work at it throughout the next session and see how we go.”
It was also the first session without tyre bundles and the new sensor system at the chicanes, Brown saying: “It’s a little bit self-policing, the kerbs, if you hit them too hard, you fly too high, it’s a struggle to get through there as quick as you can.
“It’s a bit of a happy medium. The tyre bundles with these cars, you’re as good as good. I didn’t get any kerb hops then.”
Repco Supercars Championship track action on Friday will conclude with Practice 2 at 3:30pm local time/4:30pm AEDT.
