Will Brown claims first win for Red Bull and leads Championship after Bathurst 500
2024-02-25 17:45:00
Red Bull Ampol Racing team recruit Will Brown has today claimed his first career win for the all-conquering Brisbane Chevrolet squad, with a late pit lane move the critical play that led the #87 Camaro to the win in the second and final race of the season opening Thrifty Bathurst 500.
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Brown was a big-named off-season recruit from 2023 Champion team Erebus Motorsport to replace three-time Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen and delivered in his second race for the team, beating WAUR Ford driver Chaz Mostert across the line.
Mostert led for the majority of the race in his Mobil 1 Optus Ford Mustang but Brown and his pit crew opted for a shorter stint in pit lane on the second compulsory stop to snatch the lead with just 11 laps to go.
The 25-year-old Toowoomba product, who started yesterday’s race from pole position, held on from there for his 6th career race win and 15th career podium finish.
Brown’s teammate and yesterday’s race winner Broc Feeney finished third, even with a five second time penalty for an early bump into the Nulon Racing Camaro of James Golding.
The result ensured Red Bull finished the weekend with two wins from two starts, with Brown now the Championship leader and Feeney second heading into the second round at Albert Park next month.
This weekend’s results also ensure the Red Bull outfit will move up pit lane for the next round with the 2024 introduction of a live pit lane that will see pit positions change in accordance with each round ending points tally for teams.
Behind the top three was the Castrol Ford Mustang of Thomas Randle, Golding in fifth, David Reynolds, Matt Payne, Jack Le Brocq, Nick Percat and Will Davison who rounded out the top ten.
"Yeah, it means a lot, first round with the new team. To get a win, to get a pole position this weekend, absolutely stoked,” Brown said.
"So, thanks to everyone at Red Bull Ampol Racing. I'm absolutely knackered. It was pretty hard out there. I had Chaz just pushing me along. I was thinking, can he piss off? But, he wouldn't.
"I thought he is gonna have a lunge at me somewhere and he is a hard racer, so just trying to keep a bit ahead. But God, he is quick down the hill, early days.
"It's a long year ahead. All these guys are driving great. So, we'll see where we end up."
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