Jack Le Brocq punched last Finals ticket in Bathurst
Matt Stone bullish team can carry Bathurst momentum to Gold Coast
Le Brocq needs to turn patchy Surfers Paradise form around
The message from Matt Stone Racing is clear ahead of their first ever tilt at the Repco Supercars Finals Series, they're not here just to make up the numbers.
For the first time, one of their Camaros will feature in the Finals, with veteran Jack Le Brocq winning out in a busy midfield pack to secure the last transfer spot at Bathurst.
Le Brocq gives Chevrolet a second Finals chance alongside GM spearhead Anton De Pasquale, a position that at times seemed unlikely given the emergence of the Blanchard Racing Team with new recruit James Golding.
However, when it mattered most, MSR and Le Brocq fought from behind through the Ryco Enduro Cup, Le Brocq finishing fourth in the enduro standings. Now, team owner Matt Stone is emploring his team to carry the momentum into the post-season.
"We’ve shown what we’re capable of this weekend, and we’re heading home to the Gold Coast 500 with plenty of confidence and momentum behind us, ready to throw everything we have at getting JLB through to the next Finals round,” declared a bullish Stone.
Le Brocq's Finals qualification added a footnote to an extraordinary Repco Bathurst 1000 across the board at MSR.
Whilst Zach Bates stole all the headlines with a stunning weekend that saw him walk away with a maiden Supercars pole and podium, Le Brocq once again flew somewhat under the radar.
Le Brocq entered the weekend as one of a number of drivers in a battle for the 10th Finals berth, though held all the cards with a 62-point buffer over 11th-placed Andre Heimgartner.
However, Le Brocq and co-driver Harri Jones put it beyond doubt with a strong weekend in the shadow of Bates' brilliance, Le Brocq qualifying fifth, before the pair finished fourth and a double top four finish for MSR. The 34-year-old also secured his Finals berth with a 114-point buffer.
When the chips were down, Le Brocq not only matched his best ever Bathurst finish from 2016, but he also matched his season's best, recorded back in March in Race 7 at Melbourne.
“It's been a huge weekend for the team, and to come away with both cars inside the top four at Bathurst is an incredible result," said Le Brocq.
"We had great pace from the start, qualified inside the top five and executed a really clean race, with Harri doing a fantastic job in his stint to put us in a strong position.
"Everyone across the team has been working incredibly hard to get us to this point, and it's great to see that effort paying off when it matters most.
"We’ve been in or near the top 10 all year, so to finally secure our place in the Finals as well makes it an even better weekend.
"I’m really looking forward to heading to the Gold Coast with so much positive momentum behind us.”
However, Le Brocq needs to turn around his Surfers Paradise form should he want to progress to Sandown in title contention. In the Gen3 era, his average finish is 16.7, whilst in 18 career starts he only has a single top 10 finish.
Le Brocq will enter the Finals Series as the 10th seed, 27 points below the cut-line, a position from which Kai Allen worked his way into last year's Grand Final.
The Repco Supercars Finals Series begins at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 from October 23-25.
