Supercars Adelaide Grand Final: Feeney tops Qualifying ahead of newly instated afternoon race, Brown’s qualifying slump continues

Written by Jasmin Low

The 25-strong Supercars circus returned to the track for Qualifying 1, which would set the grid for the first of the three races taking place over the course of the weekend. Broc Feeney took a record-breaking 17th pole position of the season with last-minute drama preventing any challengers from snatching top spot. Meanwhile, his teammate Will Brown saw his qualifying woes continuing, winding up in 12th. 

Triple Eight faced mixed qualifying results, but will start today's race with Feeney in pole position | Image: Jasmin Low

As it Happened

Matt Payne was the first to cross the line and set an indicative lap with a time of 1:19.878. However as the fast laps came flying in, the top spot was quickly traded between drivers. dropping the New Zealander down the order.

Chaz Mostert, who suffered a close call with the barriers during Practice 2, seemed like the man to beat, leading the way with his time of 1:19.266, over 2-tenths ahead of David Reynolds in second. 

With 2 minutes left to decide who would advance into the top 10, title contenders Brown and Allen were yet to break out of the elimination zone. 

The final 30 seconds of the first phase of qualifying saw a flurry of activity and changes to the order. Brodie Kostecki flew into the top spot with a time of 1:19.007, a narrow 0.019 seconds ahead of André Heimgartner. 

Heartbreakingly, Will Brown failed to make the top 10, marking a continuation of the Queenslander’s qualifying struggles. Brown is set to start today’s race from 12th on the grid. 

As the green flags flew once again, the top 10 were left to battle it out. With 10 minutes on the clock to decide the final order and rain beginning to fall over the main straight, there was no room for mistake. 

Kostecki, who had showcased strong pace during the first stage of qualifying, led the way with a time of 1:19.192, narrowly ahead of the Walkinshaw Andretti United duo of Wood and Mostert. Broc Feeney managed to make late improvements, clawing his way up into third with just over a minute remaining before taking the top spot with his next lap. 

Kostecki went skating across the grass and rebounding off of the barriers in the final minute, watching his hopes of claiming pole position slipping away. Cam Waters suffered a similar fate, locking up and sliding through the final corner after oil went pouring from Heimgartner’s Chevrolet. 

Feeney reaped the ultimate reward in the wake of Heimgartner’s engine failure, crossing the line with a time of 1:18.964 and with it the circuit’s newest qualifying record. To add to his list of accolades, Feeney now holds the record for the most pole positions in a single season, bringing his total to 17. 

Joining Feeney on the front row is his title rival Mostert, whilst Waters rounds out the top three after topping both practice sessions.