Supercars champion Will Brown receives Keys to the City

Toowoomba’s Will Brown is the reigning Australian Supercars champion and the latest recipient of Toowoomba Regional Council’s top civic honour, who is as comfortable working in his family’s car business as he is hurtling around the race track winning titles.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald today (January 23, 2025) presented the ceremonial Keys to the City to Will at a civic reception attended by his family at Toowoomba City Hall.

Mayor McDonald said the presentation recognised Will’s outstanding results on the racing track in 2024, which saw him emulate the 1984 feat of Dick Johnson by featuring on the podium at each race across the Supercars season.

“Council and many of our Region’s residents were thrilled with Will’s incredible results during the 2024 Supercars season, which culminated in him winning the sport’s coveted Australian title,” Mayor McDonald said.

“Presenting the Keys to the City recognises Will’s success on the track last year, plus the years of training and fine-tuning of his skills that led to his most successful year to date.

“We celebrate that success and wish Will the best of luck as his prepares to suit up for another year of intense competition in 2025.

“Will is proud to represent Toowoomba, and we are equally pleased to see him enjoying success and flying the flag for our Region wherever he competes.

“He and his family can be justifiably proud of his amazing title win in 2024 and it is fitting that Council can make a civic presentation that reflects our pride in his success.”

Fresh from off-season racing in New Zealand, Will said he was determined to defend his title and claim a rare season double by winning the Repco Bathurst 1000 race at the famous Mt Panorama circuit.

He said while 2024 was a stressful year, his consistency was the key to success.

His coming schedule includes the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour race in a Ferrari 296 GT3 in late January/early February before the opening 2025 Supercars Championship round, the Sydney 500 from February 21-23.

Asked why he was happy living in Toowoomba when many racing competitors tanned themselves at the Gold Coast, Will had a simple reply.

“I always enjoy getting home; it’s a great place,” Will said.

Will joins an outstanding list of recipients who have been presented with the Keys to the City, which most recently included the then-youngest Australian to climb Mt Everest, Alyssa Azar, and IndyCar Series Championship driver and two-time series champion, Will Power.

In 2001, the then Toowoomba City Council bestowed the honour on Mr Haruo and Mrs Mitsuko Ishida, in recognition of their contribution to the Sister City Relationship between Toowoomba and Takatsuki in Japan.

Will Brown racing background:

Will Brown is a Toowoomba success story, whose passion for motor racing was ignited when a football injury at 13 saw him jump in a go-kart.

His skill and tenacity saw him move through the ranks from Formula 4, Formula Ford, Toyota 86 Racing, Super2 Series, Touring Cars, to eventually landing in the highly prized V8 Supercars series.

His natural ability saw him win championships in the Australian Formula 4 and the Australian Toyota Racing Series in 2016. This feat saw him become one of five drivers in Australian motorsport to win two national racing titles in one year.

He has won many other accolades, including the Mike Kable Young Gun award in 2017 and the Peter Brock Medal for his outstanding efforts that year.

Will showed grit and determination to complete a childhood dream by winning the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.

The title win handed him an invitation to compete at the 2025 Race of Champions, which draws drivers from the world’s major motorsport series to compete in identical cars.

The event will be held in Sydney in March. Earlier in 2024 he made his debut in the NASCAR series in the United States and is eyeing a return to the series this year.

Caption: Top: Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald (left) presents the Keys to the City to Toowoomba’s Will Brown.