![\"\u2018Burning](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Will-Brown-T8.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWill Brown closes his eyes as he exits the pits during the warm-up session. Image: Fox Sports<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWill Brown closes his eyes as he exits the pits during the warm-up session. Image: Fox Sports<\/p>\n
In addition to a stationary fan positioned inside the garage, a team member could be seen pointing a blower to direct exhaust fumes away from the open passenger door directly above the outlet.<\/p>\n
Fumes have reportedly been an issue in endurance race pit stops with the Chevrolet Camaros since the Gen3 cars were introduced in 2023.<\/p>\n
However, the problem was said to be worse at The Bend and came into the spotlight during the morning warm-up when Will Brown was captured visibly struggling inside the car.<\/p>\n
Commentators initially speculated that Brown was in discomfort due to a seatbelt issue, while the driver said others \u2013 including his partner \u2013 sent messages concerned he\u2019d hurt his back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure why it\u2019s doing it, but I jumped in the car and the fumes were burning my eyes,\u201d said Brown on his Lucky Dogs podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why they were commenting, because they thought I was crying but I literally had my eyes closed. I would just open them a little bit to merge with traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had my eyes closed pretty much to Turn 1 and was trying to blow air in with the vent of my side window to blow some of the air out.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I was literally holding my breath as long as I could, and my eyes were just so sore for pretty much the rest of the session.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt affects a few of the crew. You\u2019ve got the driver change assistant Mitch in there who was trying to do the change having the same thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it came in so fast. [Co-driver] Scotty [Pye] was saying he pulls up and is out within two or three seconds but his eyes were burning within that time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown affirmed the addition of the leaf blower made a big difference in the race.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Supercars-TheBend500-Friday-169.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Will Brown at The Bend. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely fixed that for the races and didn\u2019t have any issues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn [the warm-up] I was only in there for a practice pit stop, during the race we were doing 30 second stops. I don\u2019t think I would have lasted 30 seconds. It would have been tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other GM teams have also reported the fumes issue in pit stops, but it appeared worse for Triple Eight at The Bend.<\/p>\n
One theory is that the team\u2019s position at the head of pit lane meant wind blowing through the garage was directing the exhaust fumes back into the car through the open passenger door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the GMs have worse fumes in the pit stops than the Fords. It\u2019s to do with [engine] mapping and different things like that,\u201d team manager Mark Dutton told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a new thing, it\u2019s been around for the whole time since Gen3. Some efforts have been made to improve it, but we haven\u2019t got there yet, hence we were trying to blow the fumes away.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t rear its head from the start of the year basically because of the shorter stops. When you\u2019re stationary for 20 or 30 seconds and you\u2019ve got a driver change happening, it builds up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exhaust is on the passenger side, when you open the passenger door because the spike person is allowed to help with a driver change, you open that door, you let all the fumes in.\u201d<\/p>\n