Broc Feeney overcame a difficult start to victory in Race 11 today at the Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains Raceway.
It was a great drive from the self-proclaimed ‘Mr Sunday’, who dropped back from the front row to sit sixth at the end of Lap 1. The Red Bull Ampol Racing youngster held firm despite his losses, earning a position back and taking the net lead following his mandatory pit stop.
Brodie Kostecki finished second and extends his championship lead as a result. The Erebus driver had led early off pole, only for teammate Will Brown to snatch the lead on Lap 4 with a superb move out of the Turn 4 hairpin and down through 5 into 6.
Kostecki was able to retake the lead with a similar move on Lap 16 at the same place as the field continued to periodically roll in for their mandatory stops.
Overshooting his mark in the box ultimately cost Kostecki, with a flying Feeney able to make a gain on the track as well as in the lane to take the lead following his stop a lap later and never looking back.
Brown rounded out the podium, impressively holding off a late Cam Waters charge which had seen the Mustang weave through the field and threaten for a trophy late in the race.
Will Davison rounded out the top five, setting the fastest lap in the process and briefly looking likely to make a challenge for a podium spot.
Mostert was another late charger, a late stop giving fresher tyres to move forward to sixth, challenging Davison until the flag but unable to make a move stick.
Tim Slad was a late mover for seventh, while late race-pace cost Jack Le Brocq who lost several spots in the closing stages to finish eighth, despite running fourth when he entered pit lane. The same could be said for rookie Cameron Hill, who continues to impress this weekend in Tasmania. Hill had started superbly, sticking with Brown to move through Feeney and slot into a comfortable third on Lap 1, leaving Truck Assist Racing running third and fourth until the stops came in.
Hill eventually dropped to 11th, moving James Golding into ninth and Nick Percat into tenth.
Andre Heimgartner was the biggest mover in the race despite being turned by Declan Fraser on Lap 1. Heimgartner was able to quickly return to action, rejoining at the rear of the field and quickly putting his head down to get to work. The Kiwi was able to pass several cars and ran long, leading the race before stopping, returning to the track in 17th. From here, he was able to pick off five more cars to come home 12th, a gain of nine positions based on his qualifying results.
It was a different story for Shane van Gisbergen, however, with the defending champion crashing out on Lap 1 following a racing incident with David Reynolds. Van Gisbergen held the outside line, with Reynolds on the inside and drifting into him as he exited the corner.
Van Gisbergen entered the grass at speed, sliding heavily into the wall next to pit entry. He was able to limp out and return to the lane but Red Bull will have their hands full repairing the damage. Reynolds also received damage to his right tyre in the contact, dropping laps behind while in for repairs.
Matt Payne was another quiet achiever in the pack, sneaking home in 15th, a gain of three positions off starting grid 18.
Supercars return for one final race this weekend in Tasmania, with the race going green at 5.50 pm.
