Finals Race: The co-drivers who need to keep Finals hopes alive
For drivers on the outside of the Finals bubble looking in, it's do or die in the Ryco Enduro Cup.
600 points are there for the taking over the next 1500km of racing, after which the 10 title contenders will be set for the Elimination Final, and the remaining drivers will be left to fight for positions 11-24 across the Gold Coast, Sandown, and Adelaide.
There is also an extra wildcard element to consider through the enduros that could spring the ultimate Finals surprise.
Supercars.com have previously looked at the co-drivers who are in cars that are provisionally holding a Finals berth entering the Enduro Cup, now we look further into the midfield.
In this article the focus is on the cars that are just outside the Finals cut-off in 11th to 15th, all within 200 points of breaking into The Finals on points.
The tales of the 2025 season are vastly different from car-to-car, with some blazing out of the gates firing on all cylinders to start the year, whilst others have come into their own as the season has built.
Dale Wood
Driving with Kai Allen, 20 points below cut-off line
Penrite Racing's 2024 Adelaide concussion subs unite for the Enduros in the car they both took over at last season's finale. Allen has been a revelation this year, and has stormed into Finals contention with two runner-up round results in the last three events. Penrite Racing have once again blended youth and experience, with Dale Wood returning for his second enduro campaign with the team. A sixth place finish at Bathurst went begging last year when former co-driver Richie Stanaway ran out of fuel on the last lap, whilst an engine failure robbed the pair of another potential top 10 at Sandown. If the 42-year-old can maintain that pace, and a little luck goes their way, Allen should end his superb rookie campaign with a tilt at The Finals.
Cameron McLeod
Driving with Cameron Hill, 108 points below cut-off line
Queenslander McLeod is an interesting prospect at Matt Stone Racing. The 20-year-old dominated the opening Super2 race of the season, took a clean sweep over some of Ford Performance's hottest American prospects in the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational, and was crowned the King of QR in a time attack-spec Toyota 86. If there's one thing McLeod isn't lacking, it's seat time, and it could come in handy amidst an uncertain time for MSR and co-driver Cameron Hill. Hill was 10th in both of last year's enduros, and won his first race earlier this year in Melbourne. However, since then it's been slim pickings, and a move elsewhere has been widely rumoured. There's work to do to burst back into the bubble, and McLeod could be a star if we see the best of him.
Tim Slade
Driving with Nick Percat, 179 points below cut-off line
On the other side of the MSR garage, it's all experience as former Brad Jones Racing teammates Nick Percat and Tim Slade reunite. Slade's deal was announced all the way back in February in a massive coup for the team, and his recent experience and speed will no doubt be a valuable commodity. The team identified the enduros as one of the weaknesses of an otherwise outstanding 2025 season, with the longer races ultimately starting a disappointing end to the year for Matt Stone's operation. This time, the slump has started well before the enduros, however a combination such as the Percat/Slade combo could very easily turn the season around. Both drivers will also be eager to kickstart their Enduro Cup campaign on the right note at home in Tailem Bend.
Brad Vaughan
Driving with Bryce Fullwood, 181 points below cut-off line
Another South Australian in the mix is Brad Vaughan, with the Super2 star returning to the enduro arena following his wildcard debut with Matt Chahda Motorsport last year. This year, he joins Bryce Fullwood, whose recent run of strong form faded last time out in Ipswich. Fullwood has become something of an enduro specialist of late, whilst Vaughan has dragged his BJR Commodore towards the front of the Super2 pack after a dire start to his 2025 season. The 21-year-old claimed BJR's first Super2 pole since 2018 last time out in Ipswich, and his experience in last year's enduros, though not in a competitive situation, will only serve him well in the long run.
David Russell
Driving with James Golding, 188 points below cut-off line
A proven performer returns to PremiAir Racing, and will need to weave his enduro magic again if James Golding is to secure a Finals berth. David Russell brought an immediate impact to PremiAir Racing, who claimed their first podium with Golding and Russell at Sandown last year, whilst Golding has always seemed to stand up on the biggest occasion at Mount Panorama. Golding securing a Finals berth is unlikely to happen without a lot of help from other results, so it's likely an Enduro Cup win the #31 PremiAir Camaro needs, and whether they can do that without the presence of Romi Mayer in the garage remains to be seen. 2024 has proven that when all the ingredients come together, it can be a powerful combination.
The outsiders
Further back in the pack, Enduro Cup wins will be the only way that anyone over 200 points behind the Finals cut-off will force their way into the list of 10 contenders at the Elimination Final. The only combo that features outside the top 15 in points with two Bathurst winners is the David Reynolds/Lee Holdsworth duo at Team 18, with Reynolds showing great speed at Bathurst last year before his enormous accident during Friday qualifying. Will Davison and Tony D'Alberto make one of the most experienced combos on the grid with 813 career starts, whilst at the other end of the spectrum Aaron Cameron and Zak Best have just 34 starts between them. Though they can't qualify for Finals as a part-time wildcard entry, the combination of Craig Lowndes and Zach Bates could prove pivotal. Bates' stunning Ipswich pace is proof that they can take points away from those who desperately need them to mount a late Finals charge.
