'Drivers will crumble': Champion forecasts final day Finals chaos
Mark Winterbottom forecasts final day Finals chaos in Adelaide
One of Feeney, Mostert, Brown or Allen will ebe 2025 Repco Supercars Champion
"People will win or lose the championship with five to go," says Winterbottom
Former Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom expects title contenders to race with desperation as the 2025 season reaches its crescendo in Adelaide.
One of Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert, Will Brown or Kai Allen will end Sunday in Adelaide as the new Repco Supercars Champion.
The new-for-2025 Finals format has seen the likes of Cam Waters, Matt Payne and Brodie Kostecki falter under pressure across the last two rounds.
Feeney and Mostert have stood tallest of all so far, sharing all four Finals wins to sit first and second heading to Adelaide.
With the new format, Supercars is set for its first final day title decider in seven years, when Scott McLaughlin defeated Shane van Gisbergen in Newcastle in 2018.
Final round drama has gripped championship fights across the years, from McLaughlin’s 2017 capitulation, the “all in the fence” chaos in 2010, and the tense HSV Dealer Team/Triple Eight battles in 2006 and 2007.
It will reach a new level come 2025, with four drivers to fight for the crown in Adelaide.
Speaking on Supercars’ The Run Home podcast, 2015 Supercars champion Winterbottom believes the pressure could be all too much for some come Adelaide’s big 250km races on Saturday and Sunday.
“Sunday is game day,” Winterbottom said.
“You're gonna see people crumble, make mistakes, and you're gonna see desperation.
"And we haven't seen this in our sport for quite a few years because like you said, they wrap it up Saturday, if fifth mathematically gets you to win, you finish fifth.
"But now, it's not over until the last lap and we're seeing people getting knocked out of Finals contention with five [laps] to go.
"We're gonna see people win or lose the championship with five to go.”
Feeney will start Friday’s 100km sprint — which offers $50,000 for the winner — with a 20-point lead over Mostert, with Brown and Allen 35 and 50 points back.
While the $50,000 purse is being dangled in front of the Finals Drivers, Winterbottom is adamant the title contenders will be desperate to make it count come the weekend.
"Friday's gonna be nice, but by no means is it done by then,” Winterbottom said.
"I think it's gonna be whoever can survive, get to the front and be clear of the carnage, that's going to be what wins it.
"Because if Chaz is second with a lap to go behind Broc, he doesn't care. He doesn't care about reliability, he's having a crack. You picture those two crash out, a hundred points, bang, Kai Allen comes through.
“It's not over until that last lap on Sunday afternoon. Like I said, Friday's nice, and if you've got 50 grand, that'll be nice. But Saturday, Sunday are going to be huge days.
"That chequered flag's gonna be your best friend if you're leading the race, because it's not done until the last lap."
Track action in Adelaide commences on Thursday November 27.
