hero-img

'Outstanding' Feeney outshines star co-drivers

04 Feb 2023
20-year-old emerges from shadow of van Gisbergen, Gotz
3 mins by James Pavey
Advertisement

Broc Feeney proved the star among a litany of factory drivers on qualifying day at the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.

Feeney qualified the #888 Supercheap Auto Mercedes-AMG on the front row on Saturday.

The sophomore Supercars driver pushed eventual pole winner Maro Engel all the way in the Pirelli Top 10 Shootout.

Engel would eventually take pole with a new record, but he had to fend off Feeney along the way.

Feeney’s role to qualify the car came as somewhat of a shock, given either Shane van Gisbergen or Maximilian Gotz’s experience.

At the ripe age of 20, however, Feeney pushed Mercedes factory driver Engel and beat Porsche factory ace Matt Campbell.

“It’s pretty cool,” Feeney said after the Shootout.

“Third in qualifying, and to move up a little bit and close the gap was good.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit disappointed, there was a tiny bit left on the table.

Van Gisbergen and Gotz watch on

“Maro’s very quick, [he gained] two tenths on the last lap.

“It’s a good starting spot for the 12 Hour.”

Feeney and van Gisbergen finished third in last year’s 12 Hour, with the former also winning the Bathurst three-hour last November.

The 2021 Super2 champion also won his first Supercars race in Adelaide last December.

Gotz, the 2021 DTM champion, was left impressed by a driver 16 years his junior.

"I couldn’t believe it that he’s just 20,” Gotz said.

Advertisement

“In the end, it shows his great potential and his great talent. It’s outstanding.

“I think he did some races last year [in GT3] and it shows also from his last few races in Adelaide.”

Engel added: "Congrats to him; obviously a great qualifying.

'I couldn’t believe it that he’s just 20'

“I hate to think what he can do if he knows the car a bit better.”

Prior to qualifying, Roland Dane detailed why van Gisbergen wasn’t the man behind the wheel.

Van Gisbergen — who won a record 21 Supercars races last year, including the Bathurst 1000 — didn’t take part in qualifying at all.

Gotz and Feeney set the aggregate times for Pro entries in Part 2 of qualifying. However, Dane expects van Gisbergen's best to come in the race.

"Broc felt very comfortable in the car,” Dane said on the broadcast.

“Shane didn’t feel as comfortable, he wants to concentrate on the race tomorrow.

“As we’ve seen in Supercars, Shane normally races better than he qualifies.

“I think we’ll see that tomorrow.”

When asked about the decision process, Dane replied: “It was a mutual decision in the team.

“They decided together that that’s the best way to decide for tomorrow.”

Sunday’s LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour will commence at 5:45am local time.

ONBOARD: Engel's record-breaking Shootout lap

Related News

Advertisement