Camaro spearhead Anton De Pasquale has clinched a Semi Final spot over Ryan Wood in a tense conclusion to the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 finale.
Wood appeared set to claim the last spot at Sandown after Walkinshaw TWG Racing orchestrated Chaz Mostert to slot in behind. It denied the rapid Mostert a shot at a fourth straight win on the Gold Coast, but offered the chance for Wood to qualify for the Semi Final.
Mostert passed Wood on the final lap of the race, claiming the final spot on the podium.
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Wood, Kai Allen and Jack Le Brocq were eliminated, with De Pasquale hanging on by 18 points.
“Let’s keep it calm, let’s start dropping back,” said Mostert’s engineer, Sam Scaffidi.
Mostert replied: “You want me to come back again now? Are you sure?”
Scaffidi stated: “Drop it back it now, 10 seconds, he’s under pressure from [Andre] Heimgartner.”
Anton De Pasquale survived a dramatic Gold Coast finale to advance to the Semi Finals.Source: Getty Images
Wood was unable to drop Mostert behind, with Heimgartner and Erebus Motorsport rookie Jarrod Hughes bearing down on the #2 Mobil 1 Truck Assist Supra.
Hughes and PremiAir Racing driver Cooper Murray stopped in the closing laps, aiding the hopes of De Pasquale, who started 21st and copped a lap 1 puncture.
Erebus Motorsport claimed a “mistake” with the fuel calculations on the Hughes car, which denied the Queenslander a stunning debut top five.
Mostert hounded Wood for the final spot on the podium in the closing laps as Broc Feeney and Brodie Kostecki blazed away, well up the road.
“Proud of you guys, sorry I couldn’t get it done,” Wood radioed to his team after the finish.
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SUPERCARS FINALS STANDINGS AFTER GOLD COAST 500
1st – Matthew Payne (3,376 points)
2nd – Broc Feeney (3,372 points) – 4 points behind
3rd – Brodie Kostecki (3,325 points) – 51 points behind
4th – Chaz Mostert (3,316 points) – 60 points behind
5th – Will Brown (3,267 points) – 109 points behind
6th – Cam Waters (3,232 points) – 144 points behind
7th – Anton De Pasquale (3,216 points) – 160 points behind
De Pasquale stars! Kostecki falls short | 01:11
ELIMINATED:
8th – Ryan Wood (3,198 points) – 178 points behind
9th – Kai Allen (3,143 points) – 233 points behind
10th – Jack Le Brocq (3,075 points) – 301 points behind
This article was originally published by Supercars.com and has been republished with permission.