First since McLaughlin: Feeney's double delight
11 Mar 2022
Broc Feeney’s full-time debut featured a qualifying performance not seen since Scott McLaughlin's rookie season.
Feeney left the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight 10th overall and with a target on his back.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing rookie, who replaced Jamie Whincup,
However, it was over one lap that he proved his outright pace in his #88 Commodore.
The 19-year-old reached both ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootouts; he qualified 10th on Saturday, before impressing to fourth on Sunday.
Only four other drivers made both shootouts; Anton De Pasquale, Brodie Kostecki, Chaz Mostert and Will Davison.
It was an impressive performance; on debut, Feeney backed up his first shootout appearance by qualifying for the next shootout as well.
The team at V8 Sleuth revealed that that hasn’t happened since McLaughlin’s rookie season in 2013.
Then driving for Garry Rogers Motorsport, a teenage McLaughlin qualified for the sole Adelaide 500 shootout in 2013, then the next one at Pukekohe.
Coincidentally, McLaughlin was also a rookie; it was his first two attempts at making a shootout in his career.
Feeney missed the shootout at Bathurst last year, although he wasn’t yet a full-time driver.
McLaughlin (C) later won in New Zealand
Feeney still has reason to be buoyed by the omen; McLaughlin won in his rookie season at Pukekohe and Queensland Raceway.
Feeney has already taken the youngest Super2 champion mantle from McLaughlin, and has until August to become the youngest ever Supercars race winner.
On Sunday, Feeney threatened to become just the second driver, after Whincup, to take a Supercars pole with the #88.
He has big shoes to fill; Whincup scored 47 of his record 124 career race wins, and 31 of his record 92 poles with the #88.
It was in the races that Feeney’s star rose, notably fighting with Will Davison before being pushed to the edge by Jack Le Brocq.
"That's what I said I was going do, and that's what I did," he told Supercars.com.
"Everyone's trying to give me a hard time; I've got the big target on my back this year.
Re watching last weekends races. There was plenty happening 😬
— Broc Feeney (@brocfeeney93) March 10, 2022
"I'm in the car that everyone sort of wants to be in and I'm this young kid as well.
"So me being a rookie, they are trying to pick on the rookie normally; but however hard they gave it to me, I'll just try and give the exact same back.
"It was pretty crazy race today, there was a lot of bumping and rubbing and stuff like that out there.
"Hopefully these guys start to realise that if they do something, they'll get it back.”
Feeney will make his second start in the #88 at the upcoming round in Tasmania.
The 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets.
Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.
