Skaife: Broc Feeney can dominate Supercars in debut season
Defending Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen need look no further than his own garage when asking who can usurp his title this year says legend Mark Skaife.
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Supercars great Mark Skaife has predicted rookie Broc Feeney can be in the title mix in his first season in the main game, saying he has the potential to “do a Craig Lowndes” in his debut year.
In what shapes as one of the key storylines of the upcoming Supercars season, 19-year-old Feeney will join the strongest team on the grid alongside defending champion Shane van Gisbergen in the Triple Eight garage.
Regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the sport, Feeney will step into the seat vacated by seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup – now his new team boss.
Feeney enters Supercars after becoming the youngest ever driver to win the sport’s Super2 feeder series last year.
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While Skaife acknowledged New Zealand ace van Gisbergen was the favourite to defend his Supercars championship, the five-time Supercars champion said Feeney had the potential to shake things up in his rookie season like Lowndes did in 1996.
In his first season as a full-time driver in Supercars in 1996, Lowndes won two of the first three races in the opening round at Eastern Creek and would go on to win the title in his debut year.
“The headline of van Gisbergen being the championship favourite is absolutely 100 per cent clear,” Skaife said.
“The second part of the headline is who are those that are going to be really genuine about taking the fight up to him … one is on the other side of the garage to van Gisbergen.
“You could argue that Broc Feeney’s debut is Lowndes-like in terms of Lowndes’ debut in 1996 with Peter Brock at Eastern Creek.
“No one expected Lowndes to win that race meeting and now Feeney comes along with a similar level of experience … he may surprise everybody, which is exactly what Lowndes did to the field in ‘96.”
Skaife was certain Feeney could be in the championship mix in his first year but much would depend on his “level of confidence early”.
“The first two or three race meetings, he’s got to put a mark down straight away,” Skaife said
“He has got to say ‘I’m not going to be messed with’ and as a young bloke not get caught up in too much drama because what he is going to see is a level of intensity that he has never seen before.
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“You have got to come away from the first two or three race meetings without a damaged car or a did not finish because you are just out of it straight away.”
Of the established drivers, Skaife said Dick Johnson Racing’s Anton De Pasquale was the driver most likely to challenge van Gisbergen.
While De Pasquale was sixth in the standings last year, he was the driver to score the most race wins behind van Gisbergen, finishing strongly with five victories during the Sydney Motorsport Park quadruple header late in the season.
“Anton De Pasquale will probably be the main one from a pace perspective to take it straight to Shane,” the Fox Sports commentator said.
“Their (DJR) cars were excellent at Sydney Motorsport Park and Anton’s qualifying last year was superb. And he is a young bloke that is not fazed or intimated.
“His qualifying pace, a lot of us were making comparisons of Anton with (triple Supercars champion) Scott McLaughlin.
“That’s a massive accolade when you put that into context of Scott’s car speed and the way that he drives the car.”
Skaife said he was also looking forward to seeing how Walkinshaw Andretti United star Chaz Mostert’s pace and confidence from his Bathurst 1000 win last year translated to the start of this year’s championship, which starts at Sydney Motorsport Park on Friday.
THE BATHURST CHAMP IN DANGER OF BECOMING ‘AN ALSO-RAN’
Reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen begins his Supercars title defence next weekend in Sydney with a new teammate and a new team boss, but the threats to his crown will be coming from every angle.
News Corp motorsport experts James Phelps and Rebecca Williams have joined forces with Fox Sports expert Jessica Yates to rank every driver on the grid.
While the reigning champ was the unanimous choice as the best man on the grid, the rankings varied deeper in the pack.
25. CHRIS PITHER – PremiAir Racing
2021: Did not race in series
Another experienced driver who will be at the mercy of his team.
24. GARRY JACOBSON – PremiAir Racing
2021: Best result 12th; Avg qualifying: 20.68; Series result: 22nd
Will be a difficult assignment if his team doesn’t improve.
23. JACK SMITH – SCT Logistics
2021: Best result: 15th; Avg qualifying: 21.55; Series result: 21st
A young driver who will be better for the experience. Chasing a top ten result this season.
22. MACAULEY JONES – Brad Jones Racing
2021: Best result: 11th; Avg qualifying: 16.77; Series result: 23rd
Twice pushed into the qualifying top 10 last season. Another young gun looking to make his mark.
21. TODD HAZLEWOOD – Truck Assist Racing
2021: 4 top five finishes; 11 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 14.87; Series result: 13th
Has shown potential to mix it with the best, could 2022 be his year to breakthrough for a race win?
20. THOMAS RANDLE – Castrol Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 0 top five finishes; 2 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 15.33; Series result: 25th
Competed in just three race weekends last year. It will be interesting to see him with a full season in 2022. A driver of the future.
19. JACK LE BROCQ – Truck Assist Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 0 top five finishes; 7 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 13.90; Series result: 16th
A good young driver who will be looking to get the most out of his car.
18. JAKE KOSTECKI – Tickford Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 1 top five finish; 1 top ten finish; Avg qualifying: 19.26; Series result: 19th
May struggle to match his Tickford stablemates but will have a strong car.
17. SCOTT PYE – Dewalt Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 1 top five finishes; 13 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 13.00; Series result: 15th
A veteran who won’t die wondering but needs to turn good performances into podiums.
16. LEE HOLDSWORTH – Grove Racing
2021: Did not race in series, won Bathurst 1000 as co-driver.
Returning to the series after his Bathurst glory as a co-driver. Holdsworth will be a valuable addition for a team looking to improve.
15. TIM SLADE – CoolDrive Auto Parts
2021: 3 top five finishes; 14 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 11.80; Series result: 12th
A veteran who seems to get the job done every year and will not let anyone down.
14. ANDRE HEIMGARTNER – Brad Jones Racing
2021: 1 race win; 1 podium; 2 top five finishes; 11 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 13.35; Series result: 17th
Coming off a breakthrough year, he will be out to keep the momentum rolling in 2022.
13. BRYCE FULLWOOD – Brad Jones Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 2 top five finishes; 5 top 10 finishes; Avg qualifying: 14.71; Series result: 14th
Will lead the way for Brad Jones Racing.
12. DAVE REYNOLDS – Penrite Racing
2021: 1 podium; 2 top five finishes; 8 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 12.28; Series result: 18th
He went missing last year and is in serious danger of becoming an also-ran.
11. JAMES COURTNEY – Tickford Racing
2021: 1 podium; 3 top five finishes; 14 top 10 finishes; Avg qualifying: 13.68; Series result: 11th
A former champion, Courtney will be looking to follow Waters to the top.
10. MARK WINTERBOTTOM – Irwin Racing
2021: 0 podiums; 4 top five finishes; 15 top 10 finishes; Avg qualifying: 12.13; Series result: 10th
A former champion, Winterbottom will be in the fight if his team can deliver him a top ten car.
9. NICK PERCAT – Mobil 1 NTI Racing
2021: 2 podiums; 8 top five finishes; 21 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 9.58; Series result: 7th
Now a veteran, Percat is a proven race winner. Expect him to jag a win but he won’t be in the championship fight.
8. BROC FEENEY – Red Bull Ampol Racing
2021: On debut
Replacing Jamie Whincup will come with a lot of pressure but Feeney will not have to deliver a championship in his first year. That’s not to say he won’t. Either way he will be the year’s big story.
7. BRODIE KOSTECKI – Erebus Boost Mobile Racing
2021: 3 podiums; 6 top five finishes; 12 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 12.29; Series result: 9th
Another young gun who with teammate Brown could be big threats this season.
6. WILL DAVISON – Shell V-Power Racing
2021: 10 podiums; 17 top five finishes; 26 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 5.39; Series result: 4th
A driver that knows how to bag points, Davison’s consistency will again put him in the title fight.
5. WILL BROWN – Erebus Boost Mobile Racing
2021: 1 race wins; 3 podiums; 7 top five finishes; 16 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 10.45; Series result: 8th
There is no doubt that this kid is the next big thing. He will be looking for more than just the odd win this season.
4. ANTON DE PASQUALE – Shell V-Power Racing
2021: 6 race wins; 13 podiums; 17 top five finishes; 20 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 4.52; Series result: 6th
After a full year with DJR, De Pasquale will be out to eliminate the mistakes that stopped him from being a championship contender in 2021.
3. CAM WATERS – Monster Energy Racing
2021: 3 race wins; 9 podiums; 12 top five finishes; 22 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 6.58; Series result: 5th
A driver in his prime and a team that is always near the top. A little bit of luck will put them in the mix.
2. CHAZ MOSTERT – Mobil 1 Appliances Online Racing
2021: 3 race wins; 10 podiums; 16 top five finishes; 25 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 6.87; Series result: 3rd
It could be a big year for Mosert and Walkinshaw Andretti United after their Bathurst triumph. They will need to hit the ground running.
1. SHANE VAN GISBERGEN – Red Bull Ampol Racing
2021: 14 race wins; 23 podiums; 24 top five finishes; 27 top ten finishes; Avg qualifying: 4.06; Series result: 1st
The reigning champion will again be the man to beat. The only question is whether or not a new teammate will make him faster or slower.
* Don’t miss Jess Yates when she hosts a new Supercars Preview Show with Mark Skaife and Neil Crompton on Tuesday March 1 from 7pm on Fox Sports 506. Their first guest is reigning champ Shane van Gisbergen.
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