How Brown has golden chance to bury Finals pressure
2024 champion Will Brown sits ninth, just 37 points above cut-line
Brown ranked third in qualifying, first in races in Gen3 era at Symmons Plains
Queenslander won twice in 2023, claimed podiums in 2024 and 2025
Will Brown knows how to get a result at Symmons Plains, and three of them in 2026 would almost certainly push the Red Bull Ampol Racing star towards Finals safety.
The 2024 Supercars champion heads to the Tyrepower Tasmania Super 440 a surprise ninth in the points through four rounds and 13 races, just two positions above Chaz Mostert.
It has been a tougher start to life in a Triple Eight Ford versus flying starts in Triple Eight Chevrolets. Brown started his 2024 campaign with 12 podiums in the first 13 races, and had six through 13 last season.
In 2026, Brown has raced his #888 Red Bull Ampol Mustang to two podiums in 13 starts, with an average race finish of 10.5. If you remove his two podiums, that average drops to 12.1.
Last year, Brown marched to the Grand Final despite being unable to nail qualifying, instead fighting back in the races. The Queenslander is ranked fifth in qualifying, but is 11th in the races.
Speaking after Christchurch, Brown said he was “fairly happy” with his qualifying results, but admitted he needs more from his race performance.
“We’ve got some work to do over this break, that’s for sure,” Brown said.
"I think we just need to get a little bit more time to get on top of these Mustangs and then we’ll be ready to go.
"But overall, everyone’s working really hard at Red Bull Ampol, all the guys and girls are putting in the effort. So I’m sure we’ll keep edging away and hopefully get a good result.”
Brown quickly turned a 37-point deficit to the Finals cut-line into a 32-point advantage, which only increased by a net five points through the four Christchurch races.
The 12-time race winner is now armed with a golden chance to put breathing room between himself and the cut-line, courtesy of what is one of his strongest circuits in the Gen3 era.
Of 2026 drivers, Brown has the third best qualifying average (5.4) at Symmons Plains, behind only teammate Broc Feeney (3.8) and Cam Waters (4.3).
Crucially, he’s the best in races with a 4.1 average — winning twice in 2023, with podiums in 2024 and 2025 — ahead of Waters (4.9) and Feeney (5.4).
Track action in Tasmania commences on Friday May 22. Tickets are on sale now.
2026 Supercars drivers' Tasmania Gen3 race averages
Results between 2023 and 2025
Rank | Driver | Race av. |
|---|---|---|
1 | Will Brown | 4.1 |
2 | Cam Waters | 4.9 |
3 | Broc Feeney | 5.4 |
4 | Ryan Wood | 9.6 |
5 | James Golding | 10.5 |
6 | Jack Le Brocq | 10.6 |
7 | Cameron Hill | 11.8 |
8 | Chaz Mostert | 11.8 |
9 | Thomas Randle | 12.0 |
10 | Andre Heimgartner | 12.3 |
11 | Matt Payne | 14.0 |
12 | Brodie Kostecki | 14.3 |
13 | David Reynolds | 14.5 |
14 | Anton de Pasquale | 15.0 |
15 | Macauley Jones | 17.1 |
16 | Kai Allen | 18.0 |
17 | Cooper Murray | 19.7 |
18 | Aaron Cameron | 21.3 |
19 | Declan Fraser | 21.7 |
Note: Declan Fraser didn't race in 2024 and 2025. Ryan Wood didn't race in 2023. Kai Allen, Cooper Murray and Aaron Cameron didn't race in 2023 and 2024.
