PODCAST: Chev back on top
Chevrolet bounced back in style during the Melbourne SuperSprint at Albert Park after its Sydney defeat.
By James Crocker
Triple Eight’s Broc Feeney swept the pole for all four races at the AGP support races, which double as round two of the Supercars Championship, but had to share the wins with teammate Will Brown and Matt Stone Racing’s Cameron Hill.
Brown won the Larry Perkins trophy, when he lucked into it through virtue of Sunday’s final race at Albert Park being cancelled due to heavy rain, with the conditions being deemed too risky for drivers and teams. Speculation was rife that officials erred on the side of caution with the cars set to depart to New Zealand on Tuesday.
The round win saw Brown take the championship lead off Cam Waters, who salvaged a disastrous weekend for Tickford, driving into the top 10 three times after qualifying outside the top 15 for all four races. Waters remains second in the championship, seven points off Brown.
You can catch up on all of the Supercars’ results, news and gossip in this week’s episode of Race for the Championship podcast.
The Melbourne weather served up a mixed bag over the weekend with super hot humid conditions early to pelting rain on Sunday, however it wasn’t just the wild weather that threw curve balls, but also some wild life. Feeney lamented hitting a stray duck during Thursday’s race!
Just like in Sydney, driving standards were again a topic on the lips of those in the paddock, with all three races featuring loads of argy bargy and wild racing, with tensions boiling onto social media following Friday’s race.
Contact between Jack Le Brocq and Ryan Wood saw the former spear hard into the inside wall on the exit of turn five and the latter receiving a drive through for his involvement.
Following the race, the decision to award Wood a penalty was criticised by former champions Scott Mclaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen, with the latter posting a still image from Woods onboard judicial camera.
A post by Scott Pye’s Apex Hunters United podcast indicated that Supercars had threatened Wood with further sanctions after the still image was shared, leading to hot debate all over social media.
Alongside Wood, only one other penalty was handed out for contact over the weekend, despite several cars being turned around and bumped off track.
Overall, Supercars’ new rules of engagement are proving a hit with fans and drivers alike.
