"Business as usual" for Triple Eight as Finals begins
Broc Feeney sits second, Will Brown third for Finals opener
"Not win or bin, and work on consistency," says Mark Dutton
Red Bull Ampol Racing isn't losing sight of the big season picture, despite going winless at Bathurst for the third year running.
Will Brown and Scott Pye scored a superb runner-up finish in the Great Race, winning the Ryco Enduro Cup and moving Brown to third in the Finals standings.
As it did last year, Broc Feeney and Brown enter the Elimination Final with a buffer to the cut-line. Still, anything can — and usually does — happen at Surfers Paradise, with Brown crashing in last year's Shootout.
While the overall speed wasn't there in Bathurst, Team Manager Mark Dutton has implored his team to make the most of its opportunities, especially on the days where Triple Eight doesn't have the fastest car.
“In the Finals you have to be maximising points and finishing and making sure you make it through," Dutton said.
"It’s business as usual for us, not win or bin, and work on consistency. It is really continuing the mantra and the crew don’t need any changes. Everyone delivered their best. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing.”
Dutton hailed his team's efforts at Mount Panorama, which pushed the #888 Ford onto the podium from sixth. The Feeney/Nick Percat car finished a quiet 11th, but Feeney still scored enough points to retain second overall.
Regardless, there will be extra attention on the #88 Mustang to rebound, given Feeney claimed "we were just slow" in Bathurst.
“It was a big week, we were chasing car pace all week. But got to a good spot, executed really well, and we were in the fight," Dutton said.
“Of course, you always want the top step but you can’t fault what the team did. We did a great job but someone was a little quicker than us at the end.
“Super proud with everyone’s effort. It’s stating the obvious, but to finish first you must first finish and we saw some big names having troubles on the weekend."
Track action on the Gold Coast commences on Friday October 23.
