Supercars headed up to the top-end of Australia and I’m here to talk all about it.
The championship has been heating up with Tickford Racing driver Cameron Waters (27), and RedBull Ampol Racing driver Shane Van Gisbergen (33) over the past few races; some solid battles have gone down. So how will this weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway be any different? Let’s unpack all the action!
We had two wildcard entries join the pack over the weekend with Walkinshaw Andretti United paired with Jayden Ojeda (22) and Tickford Racing with Zak Best (20).
Practice saw drivers getting the hang of the track, building data to tune the cars right, and seeing what strategies will work best with both the track and weather conditions. Very hot compared to the rest of Australia right now!
However there were big questions with how the new tyre PSI rules would go, with some worries intact from DJR Shell V-Power Racings’s Anton De Pasquale (26) – he made it clear it was important to be up the front of the grid; assuming this was to further benefit them with a potential worst-case scenario.
All cars supported Indigenous liveries, boosting the support of Aboriginal communities and awareness over the weekend. The whole grid looks awesome, a variety of colours in every team making it all the more special.
The cars looked gorgeous out on track, fuelling excitement for the weekend. During practice, it was noted that Mark Winterbottom (41) had some pace, giving a bit of hope for the weekend for Team 18. Chaz Mostert (30) for Walkinshaw Andretti United in car 25 showed some steady and quick times out there, promising for sure. A hard practice session endured for James Courtney (41), taking a shunt into the tyre barrier.
Over the weekend we had a three-part qualifying session to set the grid for a race on Saturday (race 16) and two qualifying sessions for the two races on Sunday (races 17 and 18). So who set the top three steps each session?
Saturday Qualifying’s top steps included Will Davison (39), Anton De Pasquale, and Andrè Heimgartner (27) – some stellar laps were conducted for sure.
The top ten shootout was a quick and consistent session, seeing Jake Kostecki (22) involved for the first time in his Supercars Championship career!
Race 16 meant Will Davison’s 500th race start of his career – a big one and starting from pole position. Approximately 38 laps around Hidden Valley Raceway turned into an action packed race with a stand-off between Will Davison and current championship leader Shane Van Gisbergen, making it the battle to watch.
The entire race was a gameplay of pit-stop strategy with an increase in PSI – no guarantees known with how the track temps would affect the tyres over the 38 laps. Shane Van Gisbergen chasing the two Shell V-Power Racing teammates after pitting for his compulsory stop where the team only changed three tyres; paired with a slow pit-stop of 11 seconds.
As cars shuffled their positions towards the finish-line, Van Gisbergen sped to catch up to De Pasquale and Davison; the pace showing and paying off with the timing of his pit-stop. Cars number 17 and 97 battled it out, Davison stubbornly refusing to let Van Gisbergan past, holding him behind with an applaudable, aggressive, and impressive effort. A fantastic lot of racing as the battle for second step closed in with the last few laps.
The top five resulting in Anton De Pasquale, Will Davison, Shane Van Gisbergen, Chaz Mostert and Andrè Heimgartner.
Unfortunately for Mostert, an investigation after the race saw him disqualified due to a breach on the starting grid, ending in no points. A tough race with lots of battles and extreme heat in the cockpit, but it was thoroughly entertaining for fans.
Sunday’s Qualifying for race 17 had the spotlight land on Cameron Waters, David Reynolds (36), and Will Davison for our top three steps. A bit of a different grid for race 17 has been confirmed.
Some surprise for rookie Broc Feeney (20), missing out on some pace with cooler temperatures. However there’s hope to find some time out there.
Sunday’s Qualifying for race 18 depicted the top steps occupied by Will Davison, Anton De Pasquale and the rookie Broc Feeney.
Another jumbled set grid, but an exciting one for the DJR Shell V-Power teammates and even more exciting for Broc Feeney and RedBull Ampol Racing with an enthralling result, and arguably the best opportunity for race 18.
Race 17 brought an expensive start to the 38 lap race. David Reynolds and Cameron Waters battling it out to turn one going wide off the racing line before falling back into place, Will Davison making a move to P2 in the midst of all this. Behind them, a fumble with a handful of cars.
James Courtney slid through the grass, over a gutter and into oncoming racing line traffic – contact made with Tickford Racing teammate Thomas Randle (26), BJR driver Macauley Jones (27), and Team 18 driver Scott Pye (32). An unfortunate pinball ripple effect ending in the safety car deployed, quickly turning into a red flag suspended race. Thankfully all drivers got out a-okay.
During the red flag, teams could lower the tyre pressure before they got going again. This essentially flattened any data teams were able to grasp and use as relevant.
More battles and hard racing presented through the remaining laps. Strategies started to play out as compulsory pit stops were taken. Waters in the Monster Energy Mustang entry slowly opened up a gap, Davison chasing him down with a meanness in the behaviour of the car.
RedBull Ampol Racing finally put in a great pit stop after race 16’s sluggish efforts. This worked out for Van Gisbergen, new rubber to lay and a mission at hand to work his way back towards the race leaders.
Tickford Racing and DJR Shell V-Power Racing retaliated with an equal great pit stop, coming out in front of car 97 – heating up the fight between three teams proving to be a thorn in each others side.
Waters and Davison playing cat and mouse, a tight battle with a margin of 0.4 to 0.6 seconds between them as Davison tried to make multiple moves and gains, Van Gisbergen making his way towards the rear end of the Shell car. A great, chaos filled race for fans. 80th race win for Tickford as Waters took the top step!
The top five after the chequered flag included Cameron Waters in P1, Will Davison in P2, Shane Van Gisbergen in P3, Anton De Pasquale in P4, and David Reynolds taking P5.
Race 18 consisted of another 38 lap sprint. 32 degrees Celsius out on track as the Supercars Championship got underway for the last time this weekend at the top end.
Rookie Feeney lost three positions in the opening, Waters and Van Gisbergen gaining on the two Shell V-Power team-mates with much better starts.
Wildcard entry, Ojeda, making contact with Brodie Kostecki (24), giving the Erebus Motorsport driver a puncture. The pit stop not working out for B. Kostecki as the field speeds past on pit exit.
Lots of pent up action as small margins start to open up with the front of the pack compared to mid pack; leaving the race leader to position four some room and clean air to really get at it.
Garry Jacobson (30) and James Courtney come close and tangle, Courtney losing position with a wide shove from the Subway PremiAir Racing car, slight damage received. A nail biting overtake after race 17’s tangle.
WAU had some quick pitstops up their sleeves, urging the field to follow suit. De Pasquale coming out of pit exit directly behind Mostert, strategies well and truly decided. An investigation for a pit infringement highlighted for car 11 due to a run in with an equipment piece- a decision will be made post race.
Jacobson makes contact with Best, breaking the left steering arm of the wildcard entry for Tickford Racing – ending the young wildcards weekend prematurely. A safety car deployed soon after, un-favouring race leader Mostert; the pack bunched up to his rear. The question of tyre quality began to do the rounds across pit lane, intriguing both teams and fans as the end of the race appeared.
As the safety car returned to the pits, pressure was on for Mostert to build a gap – Van Gisbergen and Davison coming to tangle, pushing each other with extreme offence and defence. Jacobson penalised with a driving infringement, a drive through penalty for B. Kostecki, as well as a 15 second time penalty for Van Gisbergen – result of a driving infringement. Chaos as the last lap approached, race control chatting over the radio.
Chaz Mostert named the winner of race 18 with the chequered flag, a stellar effort and very well deserved. Some hard racing between the paddock, but some thrilling last lap action between De Pasquale and Mostert, Waters catching Feeney to land on the top step.
An entertaining weekend for sure. Shane Van Gisbergen’s championship gap now separated by 214 points from Anton De Pasquale. It’s quickly becoming a close battle between multiple drivers as the points start to add up.
I hope you thoroughly enjoyed unpacking Supercars in Darwin with me. Comment your favourite highlight of this weekend!
Until next time,
Tayla Talks
Tayla Talks 
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