Broc Feeney on track at the Perth Super440. Image: InSyde Media
Triple Eight struggled across Darwin and Townsville, well and truly in the shadow of fellow Ford squads Grove Racing, Tickford Racing and Dick Johnson Racing.
The team has been open about needing to better understand the characteristics of the Mustang package, while also acknowledging an immense workload has taken its toll.
Feeney made a strong start to the Perth Super440 with second in Friday practice, declaring he felt “a lot more competitive from the first run”.
“We’re still not the fastest car, so we’ve still got a fair bit to work on, but I think they’ve done a great job at trying some new stuff over the last couple of rounds,” he said.
“Townsville we tried some stuff that obviously didn’t work. We didn’t have the most competitive cars, but we keep trying some things, trying to learn our toolbox for this car.
“That’s our biggest thing at the moment, trying to understand what makes this car go fast. I think we’ve still got a bit to go.”
Triple Eight managing director Jamie Whincup has returned to the paddock in Perth, having been absent from Townsville due to commitments at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Weighing in on the team’s fortunes during Friday practice, Whincup said the squad deserved the scrutiny it has come under.
Why Ford switch is proving Triple Eight’s biggest challenge yet
“We’ve been smashed pretty heavily from the media, but we’ve deserved it because we set ourselves a really high standard and we haven’t been able to deliver to that standard,” he said.
“It’s been great that some people have put that into perspective of course; we’re still second in the teams’ championship and second in the drivers’ championship, so it’s not dire straits, but it’s not at our level.”
Whincup backed his team to return to the top of the pecking order.
“When you really dig deep it all makes a lot of sense, but then the hard work now is trying to find that balance in the car to make it really, really quick and make these two drivers happy, which they haven’t been the last couple of rounds,” he said.
“But I get it, I was a driver once, it’s no fun when the car doesn’t do what you want it to do.
“We’ll get it back there, I’m sure. I don’t know how long that’s going to take, but we’ll get it back there sooner rather than later and start having some fun.”
The Supercars Championship will return to the track for back-to-back qualifying sessions from 9:45am AWST.