Drama unfolds in Bathurst practice as championship rivals collide
In a scene that had the Bathurst crowd buzzing long after the checkered flag, Will Brown narrowly avoided a disaster during Supercars practice at Mount Panorama. The Triple Eight driver was charging toward the final corner on a hot lap when a separate mid-pack battle between Thomas Randle and Chaz Mostert forced a dramatic moment that could have changed the weekend’s course.
As Mostert crept aside to avoid the clash, he moved directly into Brown’s path, leaving the Red Bull Racing driver with little choice but to brake hard and take to the grass. The incident left Brown openly rattled, with his exclamation over the team radio underscoring how close the call was: “I just pooped in my pants.”
Post-incident drama and apologies in the pits
The tension did not end on the track. Moments later, Mostert left his Mustang and headed straight for Randle outside his garage, a confrontation captured in real time by on-site observers. “Sort it out there, mate,” Mostert could be heard saying as he gestured toward Randle. But the drama soon shifted back to the garages as Mostert approached Brown’s team, later exchanging apologies with the shaken driver in the Red Bull Racing garage.
Analysts and commentators weighed in on the near-miss. Neil Crompton described the moment as a near-miss that could have written off two cars, while veteran observers highlighted the risk inherent in a high-speed sprint toward a corner with minimal margin for error. The incident reignited discussions about car parity and safety in a category defined by raw pace and split-second decisions.
What it means for the Bathurst weekend
With the dramatic incident still fresh, the focus shifted to the broader qualifying narrative. Reigning Bathurst champion Brodie Kostecki pushed Shell V-Power Racing onto provisional pole, signaling a weekend that could hinge on parity and strategic execution. Kostecki’s late-lap pace contradicted his frustrations about balance between the Ford and Camaro programs, describing the situation in blunt terms while acknowledging a sensational qualifying effort.
Brown, meanwhile, faced the harsh reality of a tough Shootout. He could only manage 12th fastest in the final practice or shootout environment, a position that mirrors the unforgiving nature of Bathurst. “Unfortunately we just didn’t have the pace,” Brown admitted, noting the tight field and the margin to pole position was merely two-tenths of a second. The practice was a stark reminder that every tenth of a second, and every decision in traffic, can define a week in this iconic race.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s 1000-kilometre epic
As the field prepares for Sunday’s endurance classic, teams will be combing through data, recalibrating setups, and considering how to translate practice speed into race pace. The near-miss at Turn 1 late in the session has raised questions about driver awareness and the effectiveness of in-car safety features, even as teams otherwise celebrate the sheer thrill of Bathurst weekend cinema. The chatter in the paddock will likely focus on who can extract consistency over 1000 kilometres and who can manage pressure when the intensity peaks on the mountain.
Fans can expect a tight grid, with Kostecki’s pole position hinting at an closely contested Sunday. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion, with mixed fortunes scattered across teams, and the memory of a near disaster at the final turn serving as a cautionary tale about the margins in top-level motorsport.
