Feeney consistency key to teams' title fight

Broc Feeney is focused on maintaining consistency amid a topsy-turvy teams’ championship battle.

Feeney and Shane van Gisbergen have carried Red Bull Ampol Racing into a healthy lead.

Heading to New Zealand, the reigning champions lead Shell V-Power Racing Team by 196 points.

The Ford team dropped 111 points to Triple Eight at The Bend, with the margin blowing out from 10 to 121 points.

A one-three Sandown Saturday saw Shell V-Power Racing Team peg the teams’ margin back to 74 points.

However, a bruising Sunday saw the margin blow out to 196 points.

Will Davison copped a pit-lane penalty in Race 25 before Anton De Pasquale suffered damage in the finale.

In all, the Shell V-Power team drop a potential 98 points in a day.

Critically, Feeney backed up van Gisbergen’s Race 26 win with a second podium of the season.

Jamie Whincup (L) and Feeney

The rookie has scored 19 top 10 finishes in 26 starts, and is sixth overall.

Despite the mounting pressure, Feeney isn’t thinking about the teams’ title fight.

“I haven’t had discussions about it, but fortunately my teammate’s 500 points in the lead,” he said.

“I’m just trying to do my thing and finish races and keep consistent.

“I don’t think about the teams’ championship.

“Overall, we’re trying to finish all the races and be as far up as we can.

“We’re trying to do the best job we can, and fortunately we’re stretching this lead out.”

Feeney has been under pressure at every stop on the calendar to back up van Gisbergen’s run.

The pressure will again return at Pukekohe, where Feeney has never raced.

The 19-year-old recently tested a Toyota 86 at the circuit to get his eye in.

This year’s teams’ championship standings will crucially set the pit lane order for Gen3’s 2023 debut.

Red Bull Ampol Racing won the 2021 title in a canter, but both Shell V-Power drivers have improved year-on-year.

However, Davison admitted the poor Sandown Sunday stung in the teams’ title fight.

“It was a great weekend for the team, but a costly day,” Davison said of Sunday.

“It was an unfortunate incident that cost him a lot of points in his race.

“It was a real shame in the first race, I started 11th and got all the way back to third.

“Had a cracking start, then had the unfortunate penalty.

“Quite a costly day on the points front, it could have been a lot better.

“We’ll focus on our speed, I’m sure we’ll be taking this battle all the way to the end.”

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