'It keeps happening': Triple Eight to investigate recurring cool suit issues

Red Bull Ampol Racing are set to investigate another dual cool suit failure in both of their Ford Mustangs during Race 9 at the ITM Taupō Super 440.

After both Broc Feeney and Will Brown both found themselves suffering the effects of a blisteringly hot and humid day at Sydney in the third race of the year, cool suit issues once again reared their heads early in this afternoon's 200km race.

Brown was repeatedly counselled by Race Engineer Andrew Edwards to unplug and replug his cool suit in an attempt to resolve the issue in the #888, whilst Marty Short did the same for Feeney.

Thankfully, ambient temperatures in New Zealand were some 20 degrees cooler than they were in Western Sydney back in February, with Feeney and Brown managing to record finishes of second and fourth.

However, both drivers were frustrated with the situation, with Feeney offering a curt answer post-race when asked if he had a repeat cool suit failure: "Yes, once again."

"Luckily it was pretty cold here today, so it wasn't too bad out there.

"It's lovely weather in New Zealand actually, you wouldn't know a cyclone's coming."

Brown, meanwhile, took a quick trip to the medical centre post-race, but was back at the Red Bull Ampol Racing garage shortly thereafter when he spoke on the broadcast.

"Yeah all good, not as bad as Sydney that's for sure.

"Unfortunately we had another cool suit failure where it heats back up again and got quite hot.

"Fortunately today we could unplug it because it wasn't over 32 degrees out there.

"The water just sits there hot, I think it got up to 35 degrees or something like that.

"It's a bit frustrating, to be honest, that it keeps happening, because it just gets you extremely hot and I don't really enjoy it, but it is what it is."

Adding to the physical test, Brown also had to contend with a cramping foot late in the race, but was safe in the knowledge that he had a comfortable buffer over Matt Payne in fifth.

"I was cramping a little bit out there, just cramping in my foot then, so it is what it is.

"Like I say, that's just part of sport, part of why we train, I'm not too fussed."

It's also worth nothing that the sister Objective Racing Mustang of Jackson Walls is not believed to have suffered the same cooling issues, though was a non-finisher after picking up right front damage late in the race.

Adding a silver lining, Red Bull Ampol Racing leapt to the top of the teams' standings having entered the day in third, and will be in the first pit bay next weekend in Christchurch.

The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship continues next weekend with the ITM Christchurch Super 440.