Bathurst 1000: Coca-Cola Racing’s Will Brown crashes out at Mount Panorama

Erebus may have taken first in qualifying at Mount Panorama through Brodie Kostecki, but they didn’t have it all their own way, with one of their stars crashing out at Bathurst.

Coca-Cola Racing by Erebus driver Will Brown has taken full responsibility for a crash which will see him miss the Top Ten Shootout at the Bathurst 1000 for the first time as a full-time driver.

In a dramatic qualifying session at Mount Panorama the 25-year-old was the most notable driver to miss the Shootout after a crash early in the session ruined his chances of making it.

Heading up Mountain Straight for his first flying lap Brown locked the front of his Erebus car and could not recover in time to make the corner at Griffins Bend.

He hit the tyre barrier hard, causing the first of two red flags in the session.

While the team were able to fix the car and get it back on track with 25 minutes left, Brown could only qualify 17th as his teammate, Brodie Kostecki, went fastest.

It’s the first time he will miss the shootout at Bathurst since becoming a full-time driver with Erebus in 2021.

“I screwed up all by myself really,” Brown said.

“(The) first lap I made a mistake, locked the front and could not bring it back.

“It is what it is.”

Brown’s fastest time in the session was a 2.05.5581, which was set on his first flying lap after the crash with 20 minutes to go.

He had one more chance with a flying lap late in the session but was unable to go quicker.

The Chevrolet Camaro driver conceded the damage was too significant to be quick.

“I think the damage was too much,” he said.

“The front bar position was causing a lot of understeer over the top.

“Unfortunately that’s part of it and those are the consequences when you make a mistake in the end.”

Brown’s crash will see his miss the Top Ten Shootout. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Brown, who is teamed up with Jack Perkins for the Great Race, said the full focus was now on Sunday.

“We’ve got a really quick car for Sunday,” he said.

“I’m not too stressed at all, we’ll build up on it (the day) and see where we end up.

“Unfortunately you can get caught in other people’s dramas being back there but we’ll just play it by ear and go from there.”

Other notable drivers who missed the shootout included 2013 Bathurst 1000 champion Mark Winterbottom and 2010 Supercars champion James Courtney.

Courtney qualified 16th in his Snowy River Racing Ford Mustang with Winterbottom to start 19th in his Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro.