Schwerkolt diplomatic on De Pasquale's Finals-ending penalty

Charlie Schwerkolt offered a diplomatic view on the controversial incident that saw his recruit Anton De Pasquale's title hopes go up in smoke at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

After being caught in qualifying and starting a lowly 17th, the 30-year-old had his work cut out for him to try and secure a berth in the Semi Final at Sandown, and the Team 18 driver didn't muck around.

The #18 Cub Cadet Camaro had pace to burn, setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 17 as he charged forward. However, contact with Richie Stanaway on lap 34 sent him behind the Kiwi and Aaron Cameron.

Stanaway was pinged five seconds, and ironically gave De Pasquale a double free pass when he got stuck into it with Brodie Kostecki entering the front straight on lap 70.

An unleashed De Pasquale roared onto the back of James Courtney in ninth, however found himself frustrated and bottled up. Ultimately, he made a season-defining move at Turn 11 on lap 77.

Courtney was put into the wall, and subsequently cleaned up by Stanaway seconds later, whilst the nine-time race winner was slapped with a 15-second penalty.

It proved the difference in gaining a Finals spot, with the post-race penalty dumping De Pasquale out of the bubble. Post-race, team owner Schwerkolt chose his words carefully, but was clearly aggrieved.

"Very very close indeed. Honestly, I thought the penalty was a little harsh, I really think it's harsh, but anyway that's my judgement," said Schwerkolt on the Cool Down Lap presented by Moza Racing.

"I haven't seen any vision of it, so we'll see.

"Yes, that's why for the sport, he was driving really well. He was the quickest car on the track, and I can't comment on the vision how it all worked."

Ironically, Courtney has been linked to an Enduro Cup ride at Schwerkolt's operation in 2026, rekindling a relationship that saw the pair win the 2010 championship with Dick Johnson Racing.

Schwerkolt did raise several positives from the weekend, also praising the newly re-signed David Reynolds, who displayed strong pace at times throughout the course of the event.

"He could have moved over for us, but I know that's not the rules. I thought that Anton did an amazing job, the whole team did an amazing job, Dave did a good job," Schwerkolt continued.

"Anton's come up from P17 to ninth, a genuine ninth or eighth. We would've made The Finals, but not quite there with the penalty.

"People will judge that, we'll see what happens there."

De Pasquale is now guaranteed to finish eighth, ninth, or 10th in this year's championship, before Team 18 gear up to become the General Motors homologation team in 2026.

One of the team's chassis' is currently on route to the United States for off-season parity testing alongside Triple Eight's first-ever Ford Mustang GT Supercar, and a Walkinshaw Andretti United Toyota GR Supra.

"It's really good. The team is great, and we'll do it all again next year," Schwerkolt said.

"Now we'll go to Sandown and try and win it, same with Adelaide, great practice for it."