![\"Bathurst](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/026-Allen-EV-08-26-JM2_0673.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Allen. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKai Allen. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n
The 21-year-old snuck into the last 2025 Finals Series spot thanks to an eighth-place finish and a fortuitous last-lap pass by Broc Feeney that bumped out Andre Heimgarnter.<\/p>\n
But Allen\u2019s day could have been so much better had he not suffered a series of hits from seasoned campaigners.<\/p>\n
Clashes included a heavy punt from behind by Brodie Kostecki and later knocks from Will Brown and Jack Le Brocq that sent the Grove Mustang off track.<\/p>\n
It triggered Allen to himself adopt a more aggressive approach that subsequently took him to the Grand Final and has made him a two-time race winner this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite upset coming out of Bathurst, the way that the driving sort of was,\u201d Allen told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like for the level of experience and talent that was involved in causing my race to go pear-shaped was pretty poor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get that it\u2019s in the rain, it\u2019s tricky conditions, but I think there were some pretty dumb moves, and it sort of fired me up a little bit for the finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a bit more experienced now and a bit more mature, so I do look back at it and don\u2019t hold a grudge anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was good. It sort of needed to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen said the shift in his own driving post-Bathurst last year reflected his growing experience within the cut-throat championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back, it was the right way to approach [the finals], and it\u2019s sort of how I\u2019ve approached it now this year,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting the elbows out, I\u2019m just not taking the crap.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m learning more about who\u2019s who, how they operate, how they drive, what they think. It\u2019s just learning for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Kai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Supercars-Christchurch-Friday-194-copy.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Kai Allen during the ITM Christchurch Super440. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
Allen has gone door-to-door with the very best this year, memorably coming out on top in a tangle with the equally uncompromising Kostecki in Perth.<\/p>\n
One round later, a hip-and-shoulder on Mostert at Queensland Raceway drew a time penalty that stripped Allen of a podium finish.<\/p>\n
The Penrite Mustang driver admits he\u2019s still on a learning curve but hasn\u2019t been afraid to push the limits of the driving code<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t try and be dirty or anything. It\u2019s not that,\u201d Allen added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel like before I\u2019d probably be too nice, and then I\u2019d get hurt on the next corner or whatever.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo now it\u2019s more the mentality of they\u2019re going to do it to me, so I might as well do it while I\u2019ve got the opportunity and get the pass done.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not driving anyone off the track. I\u2019ve learned a lot about where the limits are. It\u2019s more just, when I\u2019m going to pass, make sure it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve definitely let a few slip this year. There\u2019s some opportunities that I look back on that I could have done better and not got myself into those positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s all learning. I\u2019m racing guys that have so much more experience than me. I just need to keep learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen will tackle this weekend\u2019s Bathurst 1000 alongside Tim Slade \u2013 the pair having combined to finish second at The Bend 500.<\/p>\n
It will mark Allen\u2019s fourth start in the Great Race having debuted as a Dick Johnson Racing wildcard in 2023.<\/p>\n