Feeney's Ford Bathurst 12 Hour Debut: A Story of Preparation and Challenge
The Supercars star, Feeney, embarks on a new journey with Ford's Blue Oval, entering the Bathurst 12 Hour with a single Mustang GT3. Despite his lack of preparation, Feeney remains confident, drawing on his experience with Haupt Racing Team (HRT) and a similar approach to Triple Eight.
Feeney's Bathurst 12 Hour history is impressive, with five starts under his belt, including a recent GT3 Audi effort. However, this time, he's facing a unique challenge: a pre-brief meeting and a lack of simulator experience.
"I won't drive the car until practice, so I'm a bit underprepared in that sense, but I was the same last year and we were really competitive," Feeney shared with Speedcafe. He highlights the importance of HRT's thorough preparation and the information he's received, setting the stage for a competitive performance.
Feeney's preparation journey took an unexpected turn. He had planned to utilize Ford's state-of-the-art simulator during his US holiday, but time constraints and the Daytona prep schedule got in the way. The challenge of learning a new GT car, especially the pit lane exit and button functions, remains a hurdle he must overcome.
"It would have been cool to go and drive it on the sim. The most scary part for me learning a new GT car is like, how do I get out of pit lane? How do I use all these buttons?" Feeney expressed his concerns. Despite the challenges, he remains determined to drive as fast as possible and make the most of the opportunity.
Feeney's Bathurst 12 Hour experience extends beyond this race. He views it as a beneficial warm-up for the upcoming Supercars season, especially after last year's heartbreak. "I always like having an event before Round 1," he said, emphasizing the importance of a pre-season race.
His preparation includes days at Norwell, driving the Trans Am car, which helped him stay sharp and confident. Feeney's focus is on the race itself, rather than the past, as he prepares for the 2026 Supercars Championship, which begins at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend.
