Too many errors cost Triple Eight, says Jamie Whincup
Scott Pye twice penalised, Nick Percat hit out of contention
Will Brown recovered to fourth with brilliant comeback drive
Jamie Whincup has set his sights on Bathurst after a wasteful and luckless day at The Bend for Triple Eight.
Broc Feeney and Nick Percat's Ford was taken out of contention after the latter was clattered into by Zak Best, who copped a drive-through penalty for his troubles.
Percat had already been fighting back after being tipped into a spin by Lee Holdsworth, who was also penalised. The Best hit sent the #88 Red Bull Ampol Ford into the garage, and into damage limitation.
Will Brown, meanwhile, somehow recovered to fourth in the #888 Ford, which was a magnet for drama with Scott Pye at the wheel. Pye was twice penalised, first for contact with James Courtney, then with Reuben Goodall.
Brown took the reins and served the combined 30 seconds of penalties, before getting on the comeback trail. Brown fought for fourth late on with Jayden Ojeda and Matt Payne, and a clash helped Brown finish there.
Finishes of fourth and 23rd weren't enough for team boss Whincup, who particularly lamented the early incidents.
"Unfortunately, not our day,” Whincup said.
"It was pretty rough conditions out there. It's one of the tougher days on track as far as conditions went, with so much water coming down, and aqua-planing, and all sorts of things.
“Those days are always about minimising your mistakes, and unfortunately, we're up there with the best of them in too many errors today. Basically the day was all over very soon after the start."
Both Triple Eight Fords had pace when the circuit dried up, with Brown particularly quick. The final result keeps Brown/Pye in Ryco Enduro Cup contention, while Feeney/Percat head to Bathurst with one goal in mind: victory.
“The good news was the cars were very, very quick,” Whincup continued.
"I think the strategy was very, very good. Big effort from #888 to almost get on the podium after being basically last, 30 seconds behind.
“So we'll regroup, we'll work out where we could have done better, how we could have handled the conditions better that were the same for everybody.
"Will's actually in a good position for the Enduro Cup. So, fingers crossed the #888 car can have a good result there and see how we go."
Triple Eight's teams' championship deficit to Penrite Racing blew out from 67 to 259 points, while Feeney ceded the drivers' lead to Payne.
