Will Brown didn’t know if he’d won the title in closing Sandown race

The TCR Australia series champion-elect Will Brown says he wasn’t aware if he’d done enough to clinch the title with a round still to run after an action-packed final race at Sandown.

Battling back from a spin on the opening lap which saw the HMO Customer Racing driver drop to last on the road, Brown was able to catch up to the pack by resetting the category’s lap record around the Melbourne circuit, eventually coming home in eighth about the Hyundai i30 N TCR.

Though still unofficially the champion as penalties can still see his points tally reduced in the final round at The Bend Motorsports Park, Brown says winning the title today was a team effort and bittersweet given his dramas at the race start.

“It feels awesome, a bit bittersweet after going into the fence on lap one by myself but we fought back and I was able to pass a few people and get there,” Brown said.

“I can’t thank the boys from HMO Customer Racing enough to be the provisional champion; hopefully we don’t take anyone out at the last round and get a penalty!

“I got a really good start, didn’t use the launch control this time, and then put it in the fence by myself which was disappointing! Got it back out and finished in eighth, didn’t know if we’d won the championship or not. It’s going to be great to have fun at the final round.

“I’ve loved it, everyone’s done a great job at HMO Customer Racing but TCR Australia itself have done great to put this on, the whole season so I can’t thank them enough.”

Brown’s only remaining title contender in Dylan O’Keeffe finished well down the order, coming home eleventh in the Ash Seward Motorsport prepared Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR when he needed to finish in front of the Hyundai to remain in the hunt.

Going in to the final round at The Bend across the weekend of November 15-17, the pressure is off Brown as O’Keeffe seeks to retain second in the title race.