Triple Eight sends repaired Will Brown Ford out after issue
Brown sidelined from final Ipswich practice with transaxle problem
Brown moved into spare Triple Eight Mustang for Queensland Raceway round
A post-practice ride session has come to the rescue for Will Brown and Red Bull Ampol Racing.
Brown, the 2024 Supercars champion, didn't set a competitive lap time in his #888 Red Bull Ampol Ford after being sidelined by a transaxle issue.
While Brown displayed his trademark grin, it was the latest hammer blow to a season which was recently found to have been stunted by an undersized engine restrictor.
After placing sixth in Practice 1, Brown reported issues early in Practice 2. He brought his car in, and the team diagnosed a transaxle issue.
Triple Eight mechanics swung a rapid transaxle change on the #888 Mustang, which returned to the track for the ride session in a quasi shakedown, in efforts not lost on Team Principal Jamie Whincup.
"He felt it the run before on a down change, and then as soon as we went out, we confirmed that the transaxle had an issue in it," Whincup told Supercars.com.
"We can't take a trick at the moment. But yeah, quick change of gearbox, went out for the rides, now it's back to brand new. We'll pull the gearbox apart and see what the issue was."
What was promising, was that Brown was pleased with the speed straight out the gate in Practice 1.
"He was happy," Whincup said of Brown.
"Will and Andrew were just doing their usual thing, dialling it in as the practice session went, and unfortunately it got cut a little bit short.
"But being a test track, it shouldn't dampen us too much. Got some good info from the other car, so expecting to come out firing in the morning."
Saturday's action begins with back-to-back Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions, commencing at 10:00am local time.
