Vassago wrote: ↑2 years ago
Even if Feeney wins Super2 this season how serious would be the idea to put him in arguably the best vacated seat on the grid? It's not like he's the next Craig Lowndes or something? With no Holden factory backing anymore I suppose they can't put him in any of the other Holden teams or even have a satellite team like the Young Lions from years gone by?
Yeah the question of who will get probably the most coveted seat in V8SC is one that is going to be interesting.... the hype around Feeney and his it seems favourite status for the to be vacated seat does not fly with T888's approach in the past.
They have never gone with anyone without experience before. Going back to their start when they took over Briggs Motorsport they had Paul Radisich and Max Wilson driving, but they were IIRC a carryover from Briggs. Next year they got Lowndes and Ellery.... the former needs no introduction and Ellery had been involved in V8s for a decade. Next year Ellery was replaced by Whincup, the nearest T888 has ever gone to getting a rookie, but he had already had 4 or 5 seasons in the category with GRM and Tasman, backing up his FF championship win.... in those teams he had shown himself for be a solid and reliable performer.
Lowndes and Whincup were there for years, in a period which included the team going from a factory supported Ford Team to a Holden backed team through to the Holden Factory Team (Whilst there was a Factory). In 2016 SVG came on board in a 3rd T888 car and with a wealth of experience with Team NZ, Stone Brothers and Tekno. He was proven without doubt, almost winning Bathurst until a late car issue interfered, with Tekno. Immediately on joining T888 (as a third driver lets not forget) he was winning races and indeed with Premat won the Enduro Championship.
Even their enduro drivers have never been rookies or inexperienced drivers. The likes of Muller, Simonsen, James Thompson, , Giovinardi before they turned to the likes of Skaife Richards and Tander.
Indeed the only time they have previously run a wildcard was back in 2013 for Priaulx and Ekström. Are they running one this year purely to put Feeney in a seat?
Has the talent pool changed that much that nowadays they feel they dont need a long experience in Touring cars beyond a year or two in Super 2? Has Roland Dane mellowed that much? I cant believe that Whincup is pushing for the team to suddenly change what has been a well tried and long format of not being a team to launch newcomers to the main game. If it is JW's influence and a decision is made for Feeney to get the gig, and it goes wrong, I wouldnt want to be in JW's shoes. Of course one thing I have just thought of as I write is maybe it is the influence of Tony Quinn, now the major shareholder of the team. Ne has said he will not be involved in day to day matters but maybe the young charger thing is his influence?
Maybe with the advent of the other young guys recently, with limited experience, has changed things. The Fullwoods, Browns, even Brodie K (more of him later) etc.
Anyway, the odds seem to be stacking towards Feeney taking over JWs seat next year. Lets not forget he is already running the coveted (and never been used other than on a car driven by Lowndes IIRC) #888. Presumably that will likely be the number that the wildcard entry carries.
Is the first year of Gen 3 the best time for a rookie to be thrown in at the deep end?
Im not even sure what existing established driver contract situations are like, ie guys like Waters, Mostert.
Whatever, I am sure there will be no shortage of applicants.
Personally I would if I was going to look at those with less experience I would be knocking on Brodie Kostecki's door. He is only 23 but first raced Karts aged 3, and when he was in his early teens moved Stateside to drive in divisional NASCAR, and then 4 years I think in Super2. Plus I think he has shown talent a plenty and he will have a year in the main game plus a couple of Bathursts under his belt by then..