Broc Feeney is making it his mission not to get caught up in any hysteria surrounding his chances of graduating to the Supercars top tier in 2022.
The 2019 Super3 winner surfaced on the radar for many last October, when he made his Bathurst 1000 race debut on the day he turned 18, paired with Tickford Racing’s James Courtney.
Feeney has since been poached by Triple Eight Race Engineering to join its expanded two-car Super2 programme alongside Angelo Mouzouris.
Some have speculated that Feeney could subsequently be in the box seat to replace the retiring Jamie Whincup next year at Triple Eight, or alternatively be placed somewhere in the interim should the team go a different direction for now.
Feeney though is keeping his eyes on the prize.
“It is very flattering to see people thinking that I could take his [Whincup’s] seat but I’m trying not to focus on that too much,” he told Speedcafe.com.
“I know if I do my best job and try to win the Super2 championship, I will be in the best spot to move into the main game no matter where it ends up.
“So I’m focusing on trying to win this first and the rest will hopefully come.”
Even Feeney’s 2021 Bathurst 1000 plans are up in the air at this stage, with Triple Eight and Tickford among five teams to have already announced their full allocation of co-drivers. Triple Eight boss Roland Dane has made clear Feeney is free to compete for a rival squad in the Great Race.
In Super2 terms, the Gold Coaster spent Monday and Wednesday of last week testing at Queensland Raceway, getting up to speed with Triple Eight machinery and personnel.
He will be engineered by Martin Short, who he actually raced against in a Hyundai Excel support class at Townsville last year.
With a young but talented Super2 grid coming together, 2021 could be the third straight year in which Feeney and Jayden Ojeda battle it out for title honours.
Feeney pipped Ojeda to the 2019 Super3 crown, while the pecking order was reversed when it came to the top Super2 rookie status last year.
“It’s definitely sort of the youth in Super2 now,” said Feeney.
“Like me and Ojeda had the battle in Super3 and then Super2 last year, so it’s going to be good competition I think this year.
“Obviously Matt White has expanded to four cars this year and [Josh] Fife and that have gone there, so it’s going to be a strong field as always but I’m very happy with where I’m at and I’m looking forward to kicking off the year soon.”
Feeney will race a #888 VF Commodore this year with prominent branding from Red Bull, Boost Mobile and Supercheap Auto.