Finals state of play: Who needs to come out swinging in 2025 enduros
It's crunch time in the fight to qualify for the Repco Supercars Finals Series.
The Finals bracket is beginning to fill up, with Broc Feeney, Matt Payne, and Will Brown securing their Finals berths in the last Sprint Cup event at Ipswich.
After 1500km of racing across the AirTouch 500 at The Bend and the Repco Bathurst 1000, the 10-driver Finals field will be set.
Anything can and likely will happen across the Ryco Enduro Cup, however for those drivers battling for the back end of the top 10, their tasks at hand are starting to become apparent.
With just two events to go until the inaugural Finals Series field is set, Supercars.com takes a look at the key contenders and what they must do (and must not do) across the enduros.
7th) Anton De Pasquale (+124)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 6.4
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Top 10s: 8
Arguably the most in-form driver in the field save for Broc Feeney, Anton De Pasquale has finished inside the top 10 in the past eight races on the bounce. As such, he is in a very strong position to lock away a Finals berth across the next two races.
What needs to happen: The task is simple for Team 18, the good momentum has to keep rolling for the #18 Camaro across the two enduros. Race wins and trophies would be nice, but top 10's are all that's needed.
What can't happen: Co-driver Harri Jones has logged plenty of evaluation day and test day miles ahead of his Supercars debut, but now he has to perform when the pressure is on. His Porsche CV is outstanding, but we've seen that the transition to Supercars can be challenging.
8th) Andre Heimgartner (+41)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 10.9
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 4
A constant presence in the championship top 10 throughout the season, Andre Heimgartner enters the enduros off the back of another strong Sunday performance in Ipswich.
What needs to happen: Heimgartner's margin to the Finals cut-off line is slim, and maintaining his season's strength, namely his performances in refuelling races, will be key. His combination with co-driver Declan Fraser proved a speedy one last year, even if results didn't fall their way.
What can't happen: Brad Jones Racing's Bathurst curse has struck Heimgartner every year since he joined the team; an early crash in 2022, an engine failure in 2023, and refuelling dramas last year. If the curse strikes again, it could be curtains for his title hopes.
9th) Ryan Wood (+34)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 8.9
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Top 10s: 6
DNFs: 1
Ryan Wood has been on a charge towards The Finals throughout the season, and hasn't let anyone get in his way. As a result, he finds himself above the cut-off line with just two races left before the 10 Finals contenders are set.
What needs to happen: Wood's speed has been undeniable in 2025, currently ranked sixth in average qualifying amongst the field. With Jayden Ojeda, they form what could potentially be one of the most dynamic duos if that pace can be converted into big results.
What can't happen: Wood's fiery temperament on-track has seen him caught up in several incidents throughout the season. Any penalty or race-ending incident in either of the enduros will be catastrophic with so many points on the line.
10th) Thomas Randle (+20)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 15.4
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 2
The back half of the Sprint Cup was tough for Thomas Randle, who has tumbled back to the chasing pack in the midfield. Just 20 points above the cut-off, it's effectively a level playing field for the Tickford driver.
What needs to happen: The Bend has been a happy hunting ground for Randle (save for his start line crash in 2022) starring in wildcard appearances and claiming three podiums and a maiden pole in 2023. Another big showing at The Bend will go a long way in easing the Finals pressure.
What can't happen: Tickford's season as a whole has been wildly fluctuating, with their weekend in Darwin being especially poor. The best of Tickford is brilliant, as evidenced in Sydney and by Randle's pole in Tasmania, and that's the Tickford that needs to turn up in the enduros.
11th) Kai Allen (-20)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 9.3
Wins: 0
Podiums: 4
Top 10s: 5
Rising star Kai Allen has come alive in the last three events, claiming double podiums in Darwin and Ipswich. After at one stage being 195 points away from a Finals berth, the 20-year-old is riding the wave of momentum.
What needs to happen: If he maintains his momentum, then there is no reason why Kai Allen will miss the Finals field. Co-driver Dale Wood is vastly experienced, and has proven to be speedy in recent years, whilst Allen enters his third enduro season after two years at Dick Johnson Racing.
What can't happen: Luck deserted the #26 side of the Penrite Racing garage in the 2024 enduros, with a double top 10 results-wise going begging through no fault of Wood or former primary driver Richie Stanaway. The Grove operation has turned a corner in 2025 however, but Allen's first enduro season as a lead driver will be a test.
12th) Cameron Hill (-108)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 14.9
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 2
After coming out of the gates firing with a race win in Melbourne, there's been a serious mid-season wobble for Cameron Hill. There's no question he will be out to rediscover his early season form in the long-distance races.
What needs to happen: Hill's form to start the year was exceptional, with an average finish of 9.9 in the first three rounds. He also secured a double top 10 in last year's enduros, and young co-driver Cameron McLeod will be eager to show his best that has seen him win both domestically in Super2 and internationally at Le Mans.
What can't happen: The mid-season funk simply can't carry on. Whether it be through poor performance, bad luck, or a combination of both, the trajectory has been pointing the wrong way since his unfortunate brake failure in Townsville. His move on Zach Bates in Ipswich was uncharacteristic, and shows the pressure is on.
13th) Nick Percat (-179)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 14.9
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 1
Nick Percat's first season at Matt Stone Racing was something of a fairytale, with two race wins his best return since 2020. This year has been anything but smooth sailing, however you can never discount a Bathurst winner in the enduros.
What needs to happen: Percat and Tim Slade make for one of the most experienced combinations on the enduro grid. The duo struck up a great rapport at Brad Jones Racing when they were teammates from 2017-2019, and if they find that underdog form, they could be a dark horse.
What can't happen: After a brilliant sprint portion of the 2024 season, Percat's season began to unravel in the enduros with two poor showings. The team have swung the axe to bring in Slade for the 2025 Enduro Cup, and a repeat of the last enduro campaign will not do Percat any favours.
14th) Bryce Fullwood (-181)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 10.2
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 5
After a quiet start to the season, Bryce Fullwood has become a regular presence in the top 10 in the back half of the Sprint Cup. Can that momentum continue with young gun Brad Vaughan alongside?
What needs to happen: Fullwood has shown great speed in working through the field from lowly qualifying positions, however qualifying remains a weakness. If the #14 Camaro can qualify up towards the pointy end, the Territorian has proven himself to be a more than capable enduro driver.
What can't happen: As much as it might sound harsh, what Fullwood has been doing in recent rounds won't be enough for a late surge into The Finals. Top 10's need to become top fives at worst, and whether the potential is there is a question only time will tell.
15th) James Golding (-188)
Last three rounds (9 races)
Race average: 14.5
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Top 10s: 1
DNFs: 1
In a similar manner to Percat and MSR, James Golding's season hasn't lived up to the promise shown in 2024 that saw a pole and a podium come his way. The last three events have been tough going, however his most recent result was a top 10 in Ipswich.
What needs to happen: A repeat of Golding and David Russell's heroics from last year's Sandown 500 will be just the start for the #31 if they are to make a last-ditch Finals run. The promising glimpses of speed shown by the PremiAir Camaro at Bathurst in the last few years will also need to be turned into a big result.
What can't happen: It's been a tough season for PremiAir in 2025, despite the promise and momentum that built in 2024. If the difficult trend continues through the enduros and into the end of the season, Peter Xiberras could very well go back to the drawing board for 2026 and beyond.
