Saturday Talking Points: Title fight rides wild Surfers wave
The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 has so far been one to remember for Tickford Racing, which topped both Friday practice sessions, only just missed out on provisional pole, topped the Shootout, and claimed a one-two in Saturday's race.
For the first time since 2017, the Ford team is celebrating a quinella in a Supercars race, with Cam Waters a comfortable winner ahead of teammate Thomas Randle.
Behind them, typical end-of-season drama caught up to two title contenders, with Will Brown coming home seventh following a qualifying crash, while Chaz Mostert was undone by a faulty gear sensor.
While Waters was the winner on the day, Broc Feeney will head into Sunday having taken points away from his teammate, who could still seal the deal on Sunday.
After a topsy-turvy day on the Gold Coast, Supercars.com breaks down what made headlines.
Tickford dominates
Save for a blemish at the end of the day, Tickford has been near-perfect. If not for the red flag late in qualifying, Tickford would likely have been at the top of all sessions so far. As he was in 2023, and also in Townsville in July, Waters was a cut above at a street circuit, winning comfortably. To prove Tickford's speed was no fluke, Randle cut through from fifth to come home second, helping himself to a maiden Gold Coast podium. While Waters was well up the road, Randle must still be dreaming of that elusive Supercars win, which has to wait at least one more day.
Mostert, Brown caught out
Will Brown's crash in qualifying caught everyone by surprise, and it cost the championship leader a Shootout berth. Starting third and fourth, Mostert and Feeney were armed with a golden chance to claw back some points. While Brown fought back to seventh, Mostert was the hard luck story of the day, with a gear sensor issue robbing the Ford driver of a likely podium. Where Mostert could have gained crucial points, his title challenge is instead on life support.
Feeney banishes Gold Coast demons
A timely podium on a day Brown and Mostert tripped over was gold for Feeney, who took crucial ground off his teammate. The margin is still 171 points, but Feeney at least has one over his teammate heading into Sunday after getting rid of "suboptimal" Gold Coast form. It was a strong drive from fourth, and he thought that was the maximum until Mostert had his problems. A sensational overtake on Matt Payne for third sealed the deal, and Feeney will be hoping for another surfboard come Sunday.
More hard-luck stories
For a time, James Golding looked on for a fairytale local podium for PremiAir Nulon Racing. Instead, he came home a distant 16th after losing several seconds in a botched pit stop, due to a slow left rear change. Richie Stanaway was also in the frame for a podium in the early laps, but once the balance fell away, the Penrite Racing driver dropped like a stone. Stanaway somehow managed a top 10, finishing ninth ahead of the charging Mostert, but would rue a missed opportunity at a surfboard.
Record broken in green race
It took 22 years and 45 races, but for the first time, all cars that started a Gold Coast race reached the chequered flag. It seemed that record would continue as Jack Le Brocq and Ryan Wood both came to grief on lap 1, but repairs from Erebus Motorsport got the former back out, albeit some laps down. Le Brocq ultimately pulled over after the finish, but got home in 24th and claimed points.
