Broc Feeney has taken his first victory in the Toyota 86 Racing Series today at The Bend Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia and has charged up the points standings at the halfway point of the season.
Gold Coaster Feeney started the race in sixth position and by the completion of the first turn was in third, then chipped away to get to the lead.
A tense three and a half laps saw the 15-year-old withstand numerous challenges before stamping his authority on the race with a lap to go.
He pulled clear of his nearest opposition by enough margin that he could breathe easy over the final lap and bring it home for his first ever win in car racing.
To add to the sweetness of the victory, it came at the first ever Virgin Australia Supercars round on Australia’s newest racetrack, the multi-million dollar The Bend Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, around 90 minutes from Adelaide.
Feeney started the weekend by topping practice by half a second before the rest of the field got a handle on the new 4.945km circuit. He finished the opening race in ninth position after being collected by a fellow competitor late in the race then advanced himself to sixth position in race two, which at one point looked as though he could have stood on the podium.
Today’s win comes after many hours of hard work for the Paul Feeney Group Race Team, which included some last minute setup changes before today’s race.
Feeney now heads to Port Melbourne, where next weekend he aims to win his second Australian Karting Championship in succession in the KA1 category.
The next outing for the Toyota 86 Racing Series will be at Sandown in support to the Rabble.Club Sandown 500 in the middle of September.
Broc Feeney Motorsport is supported by Firestar Developments, Marriott Vacation Club, Labrys, Norwell Motorplex and Paul Feeney Group Race Team, along with TAFE Queensland.
QUOTEBOARD – BROC FEENEY #93:
“It is unbelievable to get my first win in my first season at only round three, it is just awesome, especially here at this brilliant The Bend Motorsport Park.
“We started the weekend really good topping first practice, but went backwards slowly. We had to re-group and then worked our way forward. Throughout the weekend, we weren’t out of the top 10, which is great testament to the work the guys have put in.
“So far in Toyota 86 Racing Series, it has been a great season for us and this is the next step. All the effort that we’ve put in, my dad, John, Trent and myself – it shows that the hard work really does pay off. It’s awesome right now and I want more of it!
“We now head to Sandown where we had a successful test a couple of months ago and I love the circuit, it is one of the best I’ve been on.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for their support, especially the team from Firestar Developments, Marriott Vacation Club, Labrys, Norwell Motorplex and Paul Feeney Group Race Team, along with TAFE Queensland.
“Bring on Sandown and let’s keep the momentum going!”
