Top five in 2022 'would be awesome': Brown

Will Brown has cast his gaze towards a top five championship finish in 2022 after a breakout rookie campaign.

Brown finished eighth overall in his first full-time season for Erebus Motorsport, one position ahead of teammate Brodie Kostecki.

The Queenslander scored his first podium, pole and win in Sydney, and ended the 2021 season with provisional pole at Mount Panorama.

Brown, who spent the summer working at his family dealership at Cars Galore, became just the 82nd driver to win an ATCC/Supercars race.

With Brown and Kostecki eighth and ninth, Erebus had both cars in the top 10 overall.

However, Brown is aiming even higher in 2022.

"I’m not sure if I want to put an exact number on it but I just want to improve from where we are,” the 23-year-old said.

"I think that the top five in the championship is pretty set but if we could make it close to that top five, that would be awesome.

"To be honest, I probably could have believed [finishing in the top 10] based on what the team has done in the past.

"I always thought top 10 in the championship would be achievable if I drove really well so I’m obviously very happy to finish eighth and probably a little bit surprised as well.

"From a driver’s point of view, I know I’m a good driver and can get the job done and I know the team is capable."

Brown was 531 points from fifth-placed Cameron Waters, and just 170 points behind seventh-placed Nick Percat.

Erebus’ best drivers’ championship position remains David Reynolds’ finish of fifth in 2018.

Brown and Kostecki, who finished third in Bathurst, spent much of the season in the top 10 overall.

They solidified their positions when Erebus hit top form in Sydney, before both cars were on the pace in Bathurst.

Armed with a full season under his belt, Brown says exceeding expectations in 2021 were a major positive, with his team looking for more in 2022.

"It was an awesome first season,” he said.

"The results we achieved are even better than I thought they could be at the start of the season.

"It’s always a great thing when you can beat your goals, it’s been a massive positive.

"By the second or third round, we had shown that we had the pace to be up the front but the consistency from myself and the team has continued to improve massively."

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle in March. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

The 13-round draft calendar was released during the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.