Pressure building on drivers for new Supercars finals
Oliver Caffrey |
Drivers are expecting the new Supercars finals format to ramp up the pressure when the series tackles the Gold Coast streets.
Topping one of the greatest Bathurst 1000 races in history, dramatically won by Matt Payne, is going to be hard to do.
But the newly introduced finals series is guaranteed to make the final three rounds of the season compelling viewing.
Triple Eight star Broc Feeney has been the dominant driver of 2025 with 12 wins, eight more than the next best.
But Feeney is every chance not to be crowned champion after the Adelaide grand final.
His title lead is down to just 30 points due to the top-10 finals system taking effect for the Gold Coast 500 this weekend.
Penrite’s Kai Allen sits 10th after not winning any races or claiming any poles this season, but trails Feeney by just 154 points.
Walkinshaw Andretti United ace Chaz Mostert enters the finals in sixth, coming off a disappointing but iconic exit at Bathurst when he got out of his car and immediately accepted a drink from fans.
Mostert has only won one race this season, but remains firmly in the hunt for a breakthrough championship.
“With the (points) reset in finals … it’s all to play for,” the dual Bathurst winner said.
“One bad race in these last three rounds is going to absolutely knock you out.
“There’s pressure that comes with that.
“We love AFL and NRL so much because when we get to the finals, we see those players give it their all.
“It comes all the way down to the buzzer, so expect the same with Supercars this year.”
Practice begins on Friday, with 250km races on Saturday and Sunday.
AAP
