FOR Anton De Pasquale, Ryan Wood and Thomas Randle, they are in the somewhat enviable position of having their Supercars finals destinies in their own hands.
Next week’s Repco Bathurst 1000 represents the 10th and last round of the 2025 regular season before a three-part knockout playoffs system kicks off on the Gold Coast.
Broc Feeney, Matt Payne, Will Brown, Cam Waters, Chaz Mostert and Brodie Kostecki are all locks, leaving four spots still available.
At least three of those berths will be determined by the overall standings at the close of play at Mount Panorama, given that Feeney will make it both by virtue of winning the Sprint Cup and being top nine on points.
The final spot will go to the Enduro Cup winner if they’re not already in the championship’s top 10, or otherwise the driver ranked 10th overall on points.
That means there is an uncontrollable element for any driver currently outside the top nine – for example, Kai Allen in 10th either needs to climb a position on the ladder or hope that someone like a Nick Percat or Cooper Murray doesn’t win the Enduro Cup following strong showings at The Bend.
For those seventh to ninth – i.e. De Pasquale, Wood and Randle – it is a much simpler equation.
Thomas Randle (right) with his Castrol Mustang co-driver James Moffat. Pic: Ross Gibb
De Pasquale is currently 173 clear of Allen in 10th, meaning if he can bank at least 128 points from Bathurst, he’ll be in an unassailable position relative to the Grove Racing rookie. That means a minimum of 11th place in the 1000.
Wood needs 162, which can be achieved by placing no lower than eighth.
As for Randle, a top four finish would guarantee he’s in play come Surfers Paradise.
They are the hard and fast figures to watch when keeping an eye on finals scenarios at the Mountain, beyond which there’s sure to be plenty of number-crunching on the fly.