Brown conquers the field with Sandown 500 victory 🏆

Round 9 - Supercars Championship

SANDOWN, Victoria - Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Will Brown has claimed the top step of the podium at Round 9 of the 2024 Supercars Championship in Sandown, with a faultless drive starting from Pole Position yielding the championship leader his first Supercars endurance race victory in emphatic fashion.

A race marred with safety car stoppages, Brown fended off challenges from all angles as he remained steadfast in his pursuit, picking off lap after lap with consistency around the iconic Victorian circuit.

Drivers were faced with an array of on-track conditions from the get-go as the weather varied, with the Red Bull Ampol Racing crew hard at work to dial in the #87 Chevrolet Camaro LZ1 for both Brown and co-driver Scott Pye.

The duo displayed comfort early on in Sandown, with the championship leader posting times that would put him in the top echelon in all sessions. For Pye, topping the co-driver practice on Friday ensured that the #87 was heading in the right direction.

Saturday proved treacherous as the weather played havoc on the field, with rain, hail, and sunshine providing teams with a nightmare concerning car setup. Despite the struggles, the #87 Camaro remained pacey, with Brown posting the sixth-fastest time in qualifying to enter the shootout.

The high pressure, high stakes one lap qualifying shootout always sends nerves up and down pitlane, as drivers attempt a faultless, perfect lap to claim Pole Position. Add in the unpredictable Sandown surface, and this lap would be the ultimate test of a driver's poise and skill.

Brown was up for the challenge, rolling out onto the track and laying down a scorching lap time that would not be eclipsed by anyone else in the session, earning him the Pole award for Race 19.

 

Brown rocketed off the line as the lights went out, charging to the lead by a couple of car lengths by the time the green flag flew. A sequence of safety cars would ensue, as Brown flip-flopped with his Red Bull Ampol Racing teammate throughout the race, before the score was settled with a handful of laps to run.

As the last safety car exited the track, it was qualifying laps to see out the end of the race, with drivers throwing everything at it in search of victory. In the end, the spoils went to Brown, who held his nerve to claim an ultra-impressive race win.

With the result, Brown extends his championship points lead a top of the Supercars series standings, as the season now heads to the 10th round at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, on October 11.

“Yeah, this victory is so awesome. Stoked to get the win! First endurance round win, first Sandown 500 win. Absolutely stoked and cool to do it in my first year with Red Bull Ampol Racing. The race was super exciting, there was so much going on. We were to-ing and froing throughout the race. Broc got in front of us, we got in front of him, he got in front of us, so a lot was going on. We were pretty much racing each other the whole race. I’m just stoked to do it. So pumped for everyone in the team to get a one, two it’s really exciting. From grabbing Pole yesterday to clinching this win, it’s pretty much a dream weekend. Thanks to Scotty (Pye) and the whole team, let's go to the Mountain.”

Next Event (Round 9): October 11-13 – Bathurst, New South Wales

Supercars Championship Results Race 19 (Sandown 500):

1. Will Brown, Red Bull Ampol Racing (Chevrolet)
2. Broc Feeney, Red Bull Ampol Racing (Chevrolet)
3. James Golding, (Chevrolet)

Supercars Championship Results after 9 of 12 rounds

1. Will Brown, 2280
2. Chaz Mostert, 2091
3. Broc Feeney, 2058