Feeney's lessons learned in bruising Bathurst wildcard
Broc Feeney has detailed how last year’s standout Bathurst showing aided his confidence heading into his maiden full-time campaign.
Feeney and Shane van Gisbergen will lead this year's charge for Red Bull Ampol Racing, with the 2022 livery unveiled on Thursday.
The teenager will race with the #88 in 2022, with Feeney assuming the number made famous by now team boss Jamie Whincup.
Last year, Feeney shared a Triple Eight wildcard with veteran Russell Ingall at Mount Panorama.
Feeney was entrusted with primary driver duties, and qualified the car an impressive 15th.
A day after clinching the Super2 title, Feeney was on a rampage in the Great Race and battled in and around the top 10.
The Queenslander notably passed former champions and Bathurst winners Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes in his first stint.
Every time the car fell back during Ingall’s stints, Feeney powered through the field and was lying in the top 10 in the closing laps.
It was a spirited comeback after a drive-through penalty for a breach of Safety Car procedure dropped the #39 entry back.
However, Feeney found the Sulman Park wall after a Safety Car restart on lap 143, and his charge ended in the McPhillamy Park sand.
'It was great to experience what I’ll do more of this season'
While gutted at the time, Feeney said the weekend itself proved a telling experience in his fledgling career.
“I learnt a lot from that race and that weekend,” Feeney told Supercars.com.
“It was great to experience what I’ll do more of this season, and what I need to work on.
“Doing my own qualifying sessions, and racing against the top guys I’ll race against this year.
“I did plenty of passing in that race, and I learnt a lot about how to race some of the top guys.
“I showed some of them that I’m not going to just sit in behind.”
Feeney will make his full-time debut aboard the new-look Red Bull Ampol Commodore at Sydney Motorsport Park in March.
There, he will race against a 25-car grid jam-packed of race winners, former champions and veterans.
Of the 25-strong field, 17 drivers have made more than 100 race starts, 10 of which have started more than 200 races.
Conversely, Feeney only has two starts to his name - both coming in Bathurst - but the most recent of the two will help aid his efforts in his new journey.
Feeney's frustration is shown on the big screen
“The race itself was a great confidence boost, being up there with the fast guys,” he continued.
“Obviously the result wasn’t what I wanted, but being in such an intense race situation really helped.
“We had good pace, adapted through the race and passed some cars.
“Even learning a bit more about the ZB Commodore, as it’s what I’ll race this year.
“I loved the weekend. I got a taste of what’s to come, and all I’ve been thinking about is getting in the car and going racing again."
