whincup Bitter Over Perth Race Loss...

Triple Eight's leaders were disappointed when Broc Feeney was defeated by Matt Payne in Perth, blaming the defeat on strategic errors and set-up decisions. Series leader Payne emerged victorious in a tight contest with Feeney following the second round of pit stops, during which Payne pitted early, prompting Triple Eight to react a lap later.

The teams came out alongside each other, and a wheel-banging maneuver allowed Payne to take a narrow lead that he held onto. Team principal Jamie Whincup mentioned that Triple Eight had the quickest car during qualifying but adjusted it for the race and made two strategic mistakes, which ultimately cost them the victory.

Team manager Mark Dutton explained that the strategic mistake was adding too much fuel to Feeney's car during both pit stops, indicating they should have opted for a more aggressive approach with less fuel. Despite the setback, the Perth weekend signaled a comeback to leading performance for Triple Eight, which Whincup recognized as an important advancement as they adjust to their new Ford package.