‘S–t, not going to pull it up!’ Star’s ‘silly mistake’ ends in shock Bathurst crash

Championship contender Will Brown has missed out on Bathurst’s Top 10 Shootout after a “silly mistake” cost him dearly on Friday.

Brown, in his last Bathurst drive for Erebus after being announced as Shane van Gisbergen’s replacement at Red Bull Racing for 2024 and beyond, lasted just minutes in the all-important qualifying session.

The pole contender couldn’t get his Erebus Camaro to pull up at turn 2 in third gear and slammed into the tyre barrier in devastating scenes.

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“Just a balls up really to be honest,” Brown later told Fox Motorsport.

“I just locked the front.

“I thought third would be faster in qualifying (at turn 2) and probably went in a bit hot. Thought, ‘s–t not going to pull it up’ and did the stupid thing jumping on the brake more and locked it up and went straight ahead.

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“Completely my fault – really sorry to the team.

“Unfortunately didn’t make the 10 but it is a really long day on Sunday so I’m sure we can claw our way back up there.

“Just a silly mistake and paid the consequences.

“Disappointed not to make the Shootout.”

Supercars great Mark Skaife was shocked to see Brown slide so wide in such an important session.

“For him, immediately to fire in the fence there Will Brown, oh my God!” he said.

“That’s really strange – he’s missed the turning point there.

“It doesn’t look like turning. He’s missed the inside clipping point by so far.

“That really worries me that there’s something wrong with the left hand front. That the tyre’s not got the pressure because it looked like it didn’t turn at all.

“There’s a lot of damage.

“It looks a bit ugly.”

Brown couldn’t get himself out of the tyre wall and needed a tow as everyone headed into pit lane as the recovery began.

“We were just talking about the big name to potentially miss out … Is this over and out?” commentator Chad Neylon said.

“They are not going to give up on this one down at Erebus.

“This could be an all time story for Will Brown and Erebus if they can get this fixed and get him out there for the Shootout.

“That was a violent hit into the tyre bundle.”

In positive news, Brown was able to limp the car back to the pits in positive signs for the steering.

“The most disappointed guy in the whole team right now would be Will Brown,” Brown’s Erebus teammate Jack Perkins said.

“He’s just gutted.

“Looked like he’s locked a brake … and a bit of a passenger from there.”

Brown’s attempt to get back out into qualifying was boosted by a heavy shunt by youngster Declan Fraser up at Reid Park moments after qualifying recommenced.

Fraser was able to walk out of the Tradie Mustang himself and was driven straight to medical, such was the impact of his contact with the wall.

But with the session again red flagged, it bought more time for Erebus to work on Brown’s Camaro.

And that extra time paid off as Brown was able to return with just over 20 minutes remaining to try and put down a lap good enough to book a Shootout spot.

But unfortunately for one of the pole favourites, Brown missed out on the top 10, finishing 17th.