FOR the second year running, André Heimgartner is the Supercars finals series’ nearly man.
In 2025, Heimgartner had one hand on the 10th and final playoffs ticket until being passed by Broc Feeney on the last lap of the Bathurst 1000 – a manoeuvre which allowed Kai Allen to leapfrog the Brad Jones Racing driver.
This time around it wasn’t so close, but nevertheless Heimgartner ended the regular season in 11th.
That came after he and Bryce Fullwood proved the best Toyota in the Great Race, enjoying a strong Sunday to finish seventh at Mount Panorama.
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“A bit disappointed, I guess. In the end, we just weren’t able to get there and get in the finals,” said Heimgartner.
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“But hey, I think we gave it a red-hot crack.
“Sort of had one hand tied behind our back and we really came out punching and executed that race really, really well.
“It’s probably the best race from the team side that I’ve had in a long time and everything was executed well. So to go from 17th or 18th at one point to seventh by the end of the race is pretty impressive.”
Fullwood added: “It was a shame for André to miss out on the on the top 10 moving out of this event for his championship.
“But we tried hard and I think we can all hold our heads high for what it was.”
Heimgartner was a podium finisher in the Sunday race at last year’s Gold Coast 500.
Bryce Fullwood at the wheel of the R&J Batteries Supra. Pic: Supplied/Pace Images