MOTORSPORT: Chevrolet wins AGP Supercars battle

The gloves were off as the Repco Supercars Championship fired into life at Albert Park in support of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, with Chevrolet taking a sweep of the four race wins as the Blue Oval faltered.

The unique event format provided for straight races without pit stops, with Red Bull Ampol teammates Broc Feeney (twice) and Will Brown in the wins, joined on Sunday by Nick Percat, who stood on the top step of the podium for the first time since 2020.

Both the Saturday and Sunday races were set to be won by Fords, however, on both occasions the leading contenders clashed on the circuit, paving the way for the close-following Camaros to pick up the silverware.

Overall, Brown was victorious and went home with the Larry Perkins Trophy and the championship lead for his efforts.

All four races proved entertaining, with Thursday evening’s race cut short to 18 laps, heightening the sense of urgency in the field.

At the top of the results, Feeney led Brown home with some formation flying.

Matthew Payne was impressive in third, ahead of Chaz Mostert, Cameron Waters, Nick Percat and Anton De Pasquale, who dropped back to seventh at the finish from second on the grid.

Friday’s second encounter was similarly enthralling.

Out front, Brown hit back with the victory over Mark Winterbottom, who registered his first podium since winning in Darwin last year.

Payne continued to show strong form in third after jumping ahead of Feeney, who looked set for a second-place finish until he ran wide and lost two places.

Will Davison came through for fifth, in contrast to his Dick Johnson Racing stablemate De Pasquale, who retired on the opening circuit with steering damage.

The Blue Oval started the Saturday evening race at the front of the field, with Waters leading Payne away from the grid.

The young Kiwi, however, pounced into the top spot, before the pair tangled entering the main straight in what officials ruled as a racing incident.

With the leading Fords on tow trucks, Feeney bounced back with the win from Brown and Mostert, with the minor placings going to David Reynolds and Jack Le Brocq, in the best showing in 2024 for the Erebus Motorsport squad.

The Sunday finale also saw a mix of mayhem scramble the results.

Brown drove through the pack from ninth to second to claim the Larry Perkins Trophy, while the leading Fords once again clashed, this time with Mostert and Payne involved.

Nick Percat shut down the Red Bull Ampol challenge to hold on for a slender victory in a popular return to form, as the top three duked it out in the closing stages.

Third place went to Feeney from Randle, who rebounded from a torrid weekend, and Mostert.

Next up for the Supercars Championship is a highly anticipated return to New Zealand from April 19-21, with the ITM Super400 from Taupo International Motorsport Park.

Race 1 – 18 laps

Race 2 – 17 laps

Race 3 – 10 laps

Race 4 – 14 laps

Championship points:

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