The three words driving Brown's Bathurst quest
“Don’t screw up.”
That’s the best and only way to win the Great Race for Will Brown, who heads to the Mountain a race favourite and championship leader.
The last-start winner at Sandown, Brown is 189 points ahead of closest rival Chaz Mostert, with Triple Eight teammate Broc Feeney 222 points behind.
The simple numbers illustrate Brown as the favourite to win Bathurst and the championship, but as of now, he has won neither.
The Queenslander has been fast at the Mountain, taking provisional pole in 2021, but has little to show for it in six starts with results of 24th, DNF, 15th, 20th, 10th and eighth.
Given his recent form and Sandown win, the 26-year-old says he feels "the most confident I've ever felt” heading to Bathurst, but knows how quickly things can change.
Notably, a power steering issue undid his 2021 race, while he watched his car sent into a spin on the opening lap in 2022. Then, last year, he crashed in qualifying, before fighting back to eighth.
“Don't screw up. That's pretty much the best way to win Bathurst, and the only way,” he said on the Bathurst Preview Show, which will air on Fox Sports' Bathurst Channel from next week.
“Every year we've had some small little thing go wrong that's really hurt us. You know, get turned around at the start and having a bit of damage all day, drop the cylinder one year, just so many different things.
"But I feel like this year I've got the best preparation. I've got a great co-driver in Scott Pye. We're turning up there trying to win it this year. So, definitely feel the most confident I've ever felt.”
Brown has been in sparkling form this season, claiming 15 podiums from 19 starts. The Sandown win, however, was his first in 11 starts.
The Toowoomba-born driver reiterated that he has to do the job come race day, something he has come accustomed to this season.
"I don't think it's just from learning at Bathurst. I think it's just doing so many events and I guess maturing in racing,” Brown said.
"But just being a lot calmer throughout the week. It's a long week. You can't win it on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. It's all about those last couple of laps on Sunday.
“So, just managing the weekend a lot better at that. I think there's been a lot to learn over the years."
