3 minute read
Triple Eight's Will Brown has one more race to run before he can celebrate his "fairytale" maiden Supercars championship after clinching the title on Saturday.
Supercars champion-in-waiting Will Brown is thirsty for more success before getting on the beers to celebrate his maiden title.
The 26-year-old wrapped up the championship with a second-place finish in the opening race of the Adelaide 500 on Saturday.
But he had to settle for a quiet night, with one more race left to run on Sunday.
Despite Broc Feeney pipping him to first place in Saturday's race, Brown maintained an unassailable 168-point lead over his Triple Eight teammate with just 150 points left up for grabs.
"It's a bit of a surreal moment," Brown said after Saturday's race.
"I wish I could go out and get on the beers tonight, but I can't, I've gotta behave. That's tomorrow night.
"To finally wrap it up today is awesome. A bit of pressure off tomorrow, can go out there and have some fun."
The result capped an extraordinary year for the Toowoomba prodigy, who became the first driver in 40 years to achieve a podium in every round of the season.
Proud dad Shane Brown said seeing his son crowned Supercars champion was overwhelming.
"He's done a great job and it's hard to believe he's with Triple Eight," he said.
"That was his dream and it's like the whole fairytale's come true now."
Brown came to champion heavyweights Triple Eight with big tickets on him and big expectations to fill the seat of three-time champion Shane van Gisbergen.
Team principal Jamie Whincup said replacing van Gisbergen with Brown to create the youngest driving line-up of all time was a risk that paid off.
"There was an element of risk, it was an educated risk," Whincup said.
"Will's a quality driver, we knew he was going to do a good job but, gee, you're replacing one of the biggest stars in the show."
Whincup was also proud of Feeney, who at just 22 years old has already established himself as one of the competition's leading lights.
"He did everything he could," Whincup said.
"I hope there's a little bit of disappointment there, I hope there's a bit of a burn as he looks at Will on the top step and it hurts a little bit because it will only help him out next year."
Feeney's race win was his second in Adelaide and sixth of the year, eclipsing Brown and Tickford's Cam Waters on four.
Brown said having Feeney vying with him for the lead all season pushed both drivers to improve their racing and spurred them to success.
"He's done a fantastic job and his day will come," Brown said.
Before Brown can hit up the Hindley Street bars, he has to complete the 24th and final race of the season at 3.15pm (ACDT) following the top-10 shootout at 12.35pm.