It was Broc Feeney securing a heavily interrupted and shortened third race for the Repco Supercars Championship at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Feeney fought off the continued challenges from Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Brodie Kostecki to score his first win of the weekend in what was a chaotic third event.
There was contact from the start as congestion at the back spun rookie Jayden Ojeda as Zach Bates and Rylan Gray toured the gravel in avoidance.
More substantial contact was made between James Golding and Matt Payne between Turns 2 and 3 forcing the Penrite Racing Mustang into retirement after contact with the concrete.
Action continued on lap 2 when Chaz Mostert attempted to round up Will Brown at Turn 9, which forced the Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang on the grass. This bunched up the pack including Matt Stone Racing’s Jack Le Brocq and Cooper Murray in the Erebus Motorsport Camaro.
Brown, Le Brocq and Murray entered Turn 11 three-wide, with the Erebus Motorsport Camaro coming off second best to end the race in the gravel to cause the first entry of the safety car.
Golding entered pit lane due to the damage caused by his clash with Payne, with Murray returning to pit lane to continue Erebus Motorsport’s disappointing start to the season.
Feeney led Aaron Cameron, Kostecki, Chaz Mostert, Brown and Allen.
Ryan Wood had started at the back due to a gearbox problem in qualifying, but had already charged his way through to the outskirts of the top 10.
Leading the way on the restart was Feeney, but Kostecki was soon to mount a challenge on Cameron and successful made the pass for second at Turn 11.
Brown also moved himself past Mostert at Turn 1 on the next lap, then Allen swooped soon after.
More contact was made back in the pack when Thomas Randle made heavy contact at the Turn 5 wall following a push from Wood to trigger the next safety car.
Feeney was under heavy pressure at the restart, but was able to answer every one of Kostecki’s attempts.
Cameron slid to fourth after Waters, but worse was to come for the LIQUIMOLY Blahst Racing driver when Brown made contact at Turn 4 leading to both Mustangs ending in the pit lane.
A nudge from Kostecki sent Feeney off at Turn 9, but the status quo remained thanks to a redress.
This is how it remained as Feeney held onto a 0.144s win from Kostecki, Waters, Allen and Mostert.
DEWALT Racing’s Anton De Pasquale led teammate David Reynolds, Brad Jones Racing duo Cam Hill and Andre Heimgartner as Le Brocq sealed the final top 10 position.
Brown was penalised for his role in the Murray incident and Wood too for his part with Randle.
Due to Payne’s retirement, Feeney now holds a 45-point lead from Kostecki and Waters.
The final race of the weekend to decide the winner of the Larry Perkins Trophy is scheduled for 10:10am AEDT on Sunday.