'What the hell?': Bizarre engine issue strikes Feeney

A bizarre engine issue headlined Broc Feeney's action-packed run in the ITM Taupō Super 440 opener, which featured run-ins with 2025 title rival Broc Feeney.

After starting second, the #88 Red Bull Ampol Ford dropped behind the sister Will Brown car on lap 9.

Seven laps later, after seemingly staving off challenges from Matt Payne, Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood behind, Feeney slowed exiting the Turn 11 hairpin.

The moment dropped Feeney behind Payne — who took evasive action — Mostert and Wood.

Feeney radioed to his team: “Engine died, what the hell?”

It immediately triggered flashbacks to the drama that befell Feeney in the final race of last year’s bp Adelaide Grand Final, which handed title victory to Mostert.

On that occasion, Feeney’s Chevrolet engine didn’t recover, forcing the #88 entry to crawl home.

Come Saturday in Taupō, and Red Bull Ampol Racing moved to quell any fears of an ongoing issue to his Ford motor, with Feeney quickly brought in for his first stop behind Mostert.

Feeney resumed behind Brown and Mostert, with Payne forced to baulk in pit lane as Cam Waters came into his pit bay.

Brodie Kostecki resumed in the race lead ahead of Brown, Mostert and Feeney, with Wood and Payne also falling behind through the pit cycle.

Feeney challenged Mostert for the final place on the podium, but a heavy lock-up into the chicane sent Feeney through the grass, rejoining behind Mostert.

With eight laps to go, Feeney got by Mostert, before the two cars made side-to-side contact down the back straight. Feeney again remonstrated across team radio, with the fast-finishing Wood quickly passing Feeney for third on lap 30.

Payne passed Feeney in the closing laps, but a penalty for the Bathurst champion reclassified Feeney to fourth, and Payne fifth.