ELEVEN podiums from 12 races represents a stunning start to Will Brown’s Triple Eight tenure, but the 2024 Supercars points leader knows he still needs to up his game.
Brown holds a 108-point lead over Broc Feeney after five rounds. The only other driver within remote striking distance is Chaz Mostert (279 behind Brown).
The irony is that more often than not this year Brown hasn’t even been the best qualifier in his own team.
Feeney leads the head-to-head qualifying battle 7-5, with the #88 driver’s pair of front-row starts in Darwin setting up a sweep of the two race wins.
Brown admitted to making too many mistakes in qualifying at Darwin and declared it would be something he’ll review before next month’s Townsville 500.
“Broc has done an amazing job this year in qualifying,” he said.
“I need to step up my qualifying and do a better job.”
History says he’s right.
Only two of the past 17 championships have been won by a driver who’s been outqualified by his teammate over the course of a season.
The two outliers in that span? Mark Winterbottom in 2015 and Jamie Whincup in 2017.
There’s still another 12 races to go, but with a potential two-horse title race between the Triple Eight duo, qualifying is likely to be a major factor.
Supercars champions’ head-to-head qualifying records versus teammates:
2023: Brodie Kostecki 21, Will Brown 7
2022: Shane van Gisbergen 27, Broc Feeney 7
2021: Shane van Gisbergen 17, Jamie Whincup 14
2020: Scott McLaughlin 28, Fabian Coulthard 1
2019: Scott McLaughlin 23, Fabian Coulthard 7
2018: Scott McLaughlin 27, Fabian Coulthard 3
2017: Shane van Gisbergen 13, Jamie Whincup 11, Craig Lowndes 1
2016: Shane van Gisbergen 12, Jamie Whincup 11, Craig Lowndes 5
2015: Chaz Mostert 14, David Reynolds 11, Mark Winterbottom 10
2014: Jamie Whincup 24, Craig Lowndes 13
2013: Jamie Whincup 23, Craig Lowndes 12
2012: Jamie Whincup 21, Craig Lowndes 8
2011: Jamie Whincup 19, Craig Lowndes 7
2010: James Courtney 21, Steven Johnson 3, Jonathon Webb 1
2009: Jamie Whincup 17, Craig Lowndes 5
2008: Jamie Whincup 10, Craig Lowndes 3
2007: Garth Tander 11, Rick Kelly 3
Note: Only single-driver qualifying sessions counted (i.e. Sandown qualifying races excluded)
