BROC Feeney admits there was plenty going through his head when the engine in his #88 Red Bull Ampol Mustang cut out momentarily in the opening race of the Taupō Super440.
Which, it has to be said, is quite understandable given a misbehaving motor is what ultimately cost him the 2025 championship.
Feeney on Saturday pulled off the road to avoid being collected by the chasing pack on his tail during Race 8, only for his Ford to roar back to life.
Triple Eight completed a part change rather than swapping out the entire engine between the two Taupō races, and that turned out to be an adequate solution – although the team has committed to doing a deep dive into what occurred.
Either way, it was an unwelcome flashback for Feeney, who went on to nab fourth and second place finishes.
“I came out of (Turn) 11 and just nothing happened. I got on the gas and the thing died,” he recalled.
“It’s amazing, it feels like 30 seconds… it’s probably like two seconds that it cuts out for but it’s amazing how many things go through your head in such a short period of time.
“That was a shame, it cost us three spots at that point, but I think in the long run Ryan (Wood) was so fast in the back end of that first race, so maybe it cost us a podium but I doubt it. We were weak in that first race.
“It’s never good. I obviously had some similar issues at the back end of last year and it came back to bite me, so I was glad to get through that race unscathed.”
It was all up an eventful day for the 23-year-old, who notably had vigorous battles with Mostert in both contests.
Feeney is now second in the championship, 19 points behind leader Brodie Kostecki.
Pic: Ross Gibb