Feeney Dominates Final Bathurst Practice as Love Crashes Ahead of Top Ten Shootout
The excitement is building for the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout at the 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000, and Broc Feeney has set the tone by topping the timesheets in the final practice session. Feeney, driving for Triple Eight, clocked an impressive 2:06.1274, establishing himself as the driver to beat. His time puts him 0.3 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Richie Stanaway, giving him a clear edge heading into the Shootout. However, the session wasn't all smooth sailing, with three red flags disrupting the action, including a dramatic crash by Aaron Love.
Feeney's strong performance is a clear sign of his intent to take pole position, and with a $15,000 prize on offer for the Shootout winner, the stakes are high. His closest rivals will need to bring their best to Mount Panorama as all 10 Shootout drivers posted times within the top 11 during the session, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown later today. Jack Le Brocq was third, followed by Thomas Randle, while Chaz Mostert, Cam Waters, and provisional pole-sitter Matt Payne rounded out the top contenders.
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The practice session saw plenty of drama, starting with a brief Full Course Yellow for teams to practice driver changes. Erebus Motorsport took a bold approach, sending Brodie Kostecki out early, where he posted a solid 2:06.8999. However, the session soon took a chaotic turn when Tony D'Alberto, De Pasquale's co-driver, and Jaxon Evans both went off at Hell Corner, causing two red flags.
The biggest incident came when Aaron Love crashed his CoolDrive Ford at The Cutting, marking his third crash at that corner this year. Love's crash brought out the third and final red flag, a reminder of how challenging and unforgiving the Mount Panorama circuit can be. The young Blanchard Racing Team driver had also crashed in the same spot during Race 1 in February, underlining just how difficult Bathurst can be for even the most promising talents.
Despite the interruptions, Feeney's time was unbeatable, and the other top drivers now face the challenge of closing the gap before the Shootout. Mostert struggled throughout the session, running as low as 24th at one point, and voiced frustrations with his car’s setup. Though he eventually secured the fifth-fastest time, it’s clear that Feeney has set the bar high.
With the Top Ten Shootout scheduled for 5:05 p.m., all eyes will be on Feeney to see if he can maintain his blistering pace and secure his first Bathurst pole position. The thrilling build-up, combined with the unpredictability of the Bathurst circuit, ensures that this year’s Top Ten Shootout will be one to remember.
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