FOR the first half of the 2023 Supercars season, Broc Feeney looked bulletproof.
Picking up race wins at Albert Park, Wanneroo, Symmons Plains and Hidden Valley, the 20-year-old was arguably entering championship favourite territory.
But momentum has slowed considerably in recent rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park and Tailem Bend.
If it wasn’t for a penultimate lap clash with David Reynolds in Race 3 at The Bend, Feeney still would have finished 11th or better in each of the past five races.
The problem is, he’s suffered a dip in pace, particularly compared to teammate Shane van Gisbergen who has been the lead Triple Eight driver for five successive races.
Feeney is now 228 points behind series leader Brodie Kostecki, with up to 1200 points left to play for.
“We have got a bit of work to do,” the #88 Red Bull Ampol Camaro driver told V8 Sleuth.
“It was just one of those weekends but points-wise it really hurts.
“We have got some big races coming up where you can make points back, but we need to be faster.
“I mean, it’s 600 points in two races. Unfortunately I think we dropped close to 200 points (at The Bend).
“We are still within range – we’ve been over 200 points off this season and got back within 20 – so although it sucks to lose it all again, I’m sure we can make it back.
“Brodie is doing a great job at the moment and they’re super quick, so we just need to try to close the gap.”
While van Gisbergen ran away with the 2022 season, he and Feeney have been evenly matched this year, the latter leading the qualifying head-to-head record 12-10.
“Obviously last year it was very one-sided but this year we can work together a lot more and not only is it working on the current cars that we have got, but trying to make it better for the future, so we’re chipping away,” said Feeney.
“I know they (the #97 crew) have been having their problems but they still beat us in all three races (at The Bend) so we have got to get better ourselves.”
Feeney and van Gisbergen will have Jamie Whincup and Richie Stanaway as their respective co-drivers for the Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000.
The chassis in which SVG started the season, 888A-060, will also make its racing return at Sandown in the hands of wildcard duo Craig Lowndes and Zane Goddard.
