Feeney, Brown impressed by 'unreal' Murray
Broc Feeney, Will Brown impressed by Cooper Murray
Murray reached Darwin Shootout on Supercars debut
22-year-old to race with Craig Lowndes at Sandown, Bathurst
Cooper Murray turned heads in his first weekend in the main game, with the rising star impressing Triple Eight stars Broc Feeney and Will Brown.
Murray, 22, made his Superars debut in a Triple Eight wildcard Camaro at last weekend’s betr Darwin Triple Crown.
The Victorian, who races for Eggleston Motorsport in the Dunlop Series, qualified for Sunday’s Top Ten Shootout, a day after he set the fastest lap of the race.
He became the first driver since Greg Murphy to clock the fastest lap of the race in their very first race.
Murray’s Sunday efforts were undone on the first lap, when he was taken out in a spectacular incident with Andre Heimgartner at Turn 5.
While “gutted” over the Sunday incident, Feeney said Murray — who will race with Craig Lowndes at Sandown and Bathurst — showed what he’s made of.
“He's done an unreal job,” Feeney told the Schick Cool Down Lap podcast.
"I said to a few people coming here, don't be surprised if he bags it in the 10 in a session. He really impressed everyone at the test day. He did a really good job.
“Obviously gutted for him, but he should hold his head very high. I know how upset he'll be with today. It obviously sucks and he would have loved to race.
"He obviously had a super fast car, but he's done a great job. I think he's shown everyone what he's capable of and I'm sure he'll continue to do that at Sandown and Bathurst.”
On Sunday, Brown added: “I think what Cooper did today is awesome and especially for his career. It showed his pace. To get into the Shootout in this field is hard, so it was a mega job by him.
"He has done a few years in Super2. I think what he showed today is that he is ready to probably take the step up. It will be a big learning curve but he has got the pace.”
Murray had a ball on the weekend, even if results didn’t go his way, saying on the Schick Cool Down Lap podcast: "I loved every minute of it, even after the unfortunate damage on lap 1, getting taken out, which was a bit of a racing incident.
"But, to go back out there and do the fourth fastest lap of the race with a car that’s pretty second-hand. So, speed was there. Car was still fast, steering wheel was a little bit bent, but we pressed on.
"Onwards and upwards. Got Super2 at Townsville, go out there and win. Then eyes forward to Sandown with Lowndesy."
