Feeney Takes Pole as Supercars Qualifying Descends into ‘Car Park’ Chaos

Broc Feeney secured pole position in qualifying for Race 3 of the Repco Supercars Championship Melbourne SuperSprint, leading a dominant showing for Ford. Seven of the top ten qualifying positions were claimed by Ford Mustang drivers.

Chaz Mostert set in the best performance for Toyota, qualifying fourth in his Walkinshaw TWG Racing Supra, even as Jack Le Brocq was the highest-placed Chevrolet Camaro driver in ninth for Matt Stone Racing.

The session wasn’t without drama, as Ryan Wood experienced issues with his #2 Walkinshaw Supra, initially unable to get past first gear. The team managed to partially resolve the problem, allowing Wood to utilize second through sixth gears.

After repairs, Wood was sent back out with only minutes remaining, and quickly encountered a congested track. He was forced to abandon his final lap as he approached the final sector, finding himself stuck behind a group of cars traveling at a very unhurried pace.

Several other drivers too failed to reach the start-finish line to begin their final flying laps, caught up in the same jostling for position. Wood qualified last and was unable to set a representative lap time.

The incident drew criticism from several observers, including Wood’s mentor Greg Murphy, who expressed his frustration. “I’m not really sure why all those cars were dawdling around. They’re never going to make the line,” Murphy said. “It doesn’t really make a lot of sense to me what those guys were being told.”

“Clearly, Woody was on a lap, his only lap, after the issue. Turns up at [Turn] 11 or 12 and there is every Tom, Dick, and Harry just flogging around wasting their time and wasting everybody else’s time. I don’t understand. It’s a bit strange.”

Supercars championship commentator James Courtney attributed the chaos to a communication breakdown between teams and drivers. “It’s communication from the teams, like Murph touched on,” Courtney explained. “He’s coming through hot. Half of these guys aren’t even going to make the line, so I don’t know what they’re doing.”

“It’s so frustrating as a driver, coming to this point and it just being a car park in front of you. The teams are sending the cars out too late to start the lap. The guys are driving so slowly on that out-lap to try and save the tyre for the qualifying lap. It just causes so much congestion.”

“Everyone is then trying to fight for a gap at the end of the lap and you end up with this, the car park. It’s such a big issue and it continues to happen. The teams back themselves into that position. They do it to themselves.”

PremiAir Racing team principal Roland Dane also voiced his displeasure and was seen in a lengthy discussion with Supercars head of motorsport Tim Edwards.

Results: Repco Supercars Championship Melbourne SuperSprint, Qualifying (Race 3)