Maiden Supercars wins that got away

A botched pit stop in Race 20 saw a potential maiden Supercars win go begging for Will Brown in Sydney.

Brown eventually scored his first career podium on Sunday, but it could have been even better in Saturday’s night race.

The Erebus Motorsport rookie pushed eventual winner Anton De Pasquale to the stops, but crossed the line fifth.

On Sunday, Brown closed to the rear of De Pasquale and loomed to claim Erebus' first win since De Pasquale won in Darwin last year.

Brown is not the first - and will certainly not be the last - Supercars driver to see a maiden win go begging.

Supercars.com lists six instances a driver's maiden breakthrough was denied.

Craig Lowndes, Bathurst 1994

Pic: AN1 Images

Lowndes famously burst onto the scene in 1994 with the Holden Racing Team.

After a gut-busting effort by co-driver Brad Jones, Lowndes loomed large in the mirrors of leader John Bowe.

Lowndes pulled off an audacious move at Griffin's Bend, but lost the lead to Bowe after being caught up in traffic.

Full-time rookie Lowndes returned in 1996 to dominate the season, claiming 16 wins - including two on debut at Eastern Creek.

Brad Jones, Bathurst 2001

Jones claimed six Bathurst podiums, and was paired with Lowndes in 1994 when they finished second.

Aboard his own Falcon seven years later, Jones combined with Scot John Cleland for the Great Race.

After nearly seven hours of racing, Jones crossed the line just 2.2s from winner Mark Skaife.

Jason Richards, Sandown 2003

The late Jason Richards had a Sandown 500 win within his grasp when he pushed Skaife late in a rain-affected race.

The Skaife/Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Commodore suffered from electrical issues late in the race, and hail hit the circuit.

Team Dynamik driver Richards went for glory at Dandenong Road, but he fired off into the sand and failed to finish the race.

Will Davison, Bathurst 2007

Davison would go on to win two Great Races, in 2009 and 2016, but his first could have come for Dick Johnson Racing in 2007.

Steven Johnson stole the lead from Lowndes in the dying laps at Mount Panorama as cars slipped and slid around.

Lowndes regained the lead and was followed through by James Courtney, relegating Johnson to third.

Shane van Gisbergen, Sydney Olympic Park 2010

As James Courtney celebrates, van Gisbergen parks up

He has won over 50 races, but van Gisbergen's first could have come on a number of occasions in 2010.

Notably, the then 21-year-old Stone Brothers Racing driver narrowly missed out to Jamie Whincup on the Gold Coast.

However, he led the final race of the season in Homebush, only to run out of fuel on the last lap and cede victory to Lee Holdsworth.

David Reynolds, Bathurst 2012

Reynolds would win Bathurst in 2017 for Erebus Motorsport, but was inches away five years earlier.

Whincup pipped Reynolds to victory by 0.313s after a thrilling battle in the final laps.

Reynolds and co-driver Dean Canto claimed victory on the Gold Coast the following year.

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the ARMOR ALL Sydney SuperNight.

Tickets for the three upcoming Sydney events are on sale now.