In a dramatic finish to win the ITM Taupō Super400 finals, fans were treated to a spectacle as Will Brown defeated local hero Broc Feeney, while Anton De Pasquale took home the coveted Jason Richards Memorial Trophy. With only nine laps to go, Brown passed Feeney to take the lead and held his nerve in a thrilling finish that saw the two Red Bull Ampol Camaros run side by side several times throughout the race.
De Pasquale followed in the footsteps of former Shell V-Power Racing Team driver Scott McLaughlin, who took home the Richards Trophy in 2018, by finishing a further third behind them. Andre Heimgartner, the winner on Saturday, made a valiant effort to capture the Richards Trophy, but De Pasquale held onto the trophy by a single spot making for some exciting supercars news in the lead up to Perth.
A Race Decided by Milliseconds
In the 60-lap Taupō race, which resembled a tactical chess match at times, Starting from pole position, Matt Payne made a big impression by outracing Feeney in the run to Turn 1, which set the stage for a fierce battle. As all of this was going on, a packed field of competitors was fighting for the title, and the reigning champion, Brodie Kostecki, was forced to fight to keep his lead.
Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Chaz Mostert (#25 Mobil 1 Optus Ford) found himself packed in and slid from ninth to fifteenth by the end of the first lap, necessitating an early recovery effort. By lap 6, Payne had a 1.6-second lead over Feeney, with Kostecki holding off former teammate Brown’s (#87 Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet) challenge. On lap 9, Brown moved past Kostecki at Turn 11 and took off.
After experiencing tyre issues, Payne lost the lead on lap 11 and was eventually passed by Feeney, leaving Payne exposed to Brown and De Pasquale. Lap 15 saw De Pasquale pass his Ford competitor at Turn 1, and the next lap saw Brown pass at Turn 11. By then, Brown was 1.3 seconds behind Feeney, who was leading De Pasquale by 2.6 seconds.
On lap 18, De Pasquale became the first leader to pit, followed by Feeney on the next lap. After the field cleared on lap 23, Feeney took back the lead by 2.4 seconds over De Pasquale, followed by Brown, Payne, Kostecki, and Heimgartner. Brown and Feeney, driving the same Red Bull Ampol Camaros, had a thrilling battle the whole way. Every turn offered a strategic chance to pass, and every straightaway turned into a test of driver and vehicle.
The sense of urgency increased as the race went on. Brown held the lead, but Feeney, a youthful driver who was unrelenting in his quest for the win in his home race, would not let up. Both drivers went above and beyond, with superb car control and calculated movements that had the entire motorsport news audience on edge.
A Pivotal Moment in the Championship Race
By lap 46, Brown had cut the lead to 0.8 seconds, while Wood was being caught by De Pasquale. Brown was all over his teammate as WAU hauled Wood in for a third stop, allowing De Pasquale to take third. On lap 49, the two ran line astern into Turn 11, with Brown contacting the back of the #88 the next lap. On lap 51, Brown gave it another go, initially at Turn 6 and then running line astern into Turn 11.
Brown took the lead after Feeney bowled wide into Turn 5 on lap 52. By lap 57, the points leader had extended his lead to 1.6 seconds. Mostert trailed Golding in their wake, while Heimgartner pursued the WAU Ford to retain his Richards Trophy.The hometown hero, however, was only able to finish one place behind Brown, who won by 3.3585s, with De Pasquale finishing third with 14.2612s.
The top ten was completed by Payne, Golding, Heimgartner, Mostert, Le Brocq, Cam Waters (#6 Monster Energy Ford), and Wood. Kostecki fell from 10th to 12th place after receiving a penalty for a late altercation with Richie Stanaway (#26 Penrite Ford).
Brown Demonstrates Champion Mentality Under Pressure
In that nail-biting moment, Brown displayed the qualities of a true champion. He held his line with unwavering focus, refusing to yield to Feeney’s aggressive challenge. This wasn’t simply about defending his position; it was a testament to the unwavering “will to win” that separates champions from contenders. Brown understood that even the slightest falter could cost him the race, the championship lead, and potentially the momentum for the remaining season.
A Championship Battle for the Ages?
Brown’s victory at Taupō has made for a thrilling championship fight. It’s a fight not only between drivers but also between teams, tactics, and a resolute desire to succeed. As we cast our attention to the Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint on May 17-19, Brown has extended his lead over Feeney by 71 points. For more motorsports news, stay up to date with all the latest from both the supercars and around racing the world.
