Crunch time for stars in the West? Questions to be answered

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship returns West, where CARCO.com.au Raceway will celebrate 100 championship races.

While it's a special weekend for Perth, drivers won't be looking too closely at the history books; rather, there's so much to play for as we head into the second half of the Repco Sprint Cup swing.

The points lead has changed four times in the last six races, and we have a new leader in Broc Feeney.

Things happen quickly in Perth, where lap times are just 55 seconds. Will we see yet another new leader, with Matt Payne waiting in the wings?

As we mark race week, Supercars.com highlights key questions that will be answered in Perth?

Can Broc back it up?

Broc Feeney was a revelation in Tasmania, winning the first two races and just falling short by the barest of margins on Sunday. Feeney won in Perth in 2023, so he knows how to get it done in the West. However, he was poor last year, with Perth the first real hurdle to his failed championship challenge. Feeney dumped 65 points to his teammate with finishes of fifth and seventh in 2024, and a similar weekend will see his current 33 point lead in Brown turn into a 32 point deficit. Given his speed at Symmons Plains, Feeney will be under the microscope.

Can Cam and Chaz turn it around?

Cam Waters is winless in nine starts since his Sydney sweep, and has missed the top 10 in three of the last five races. Chaz Mostert, meanwhile, had a shocker in Tasmania, finishing 18th for the round. The Ford duo shared the Perth wins last year, but are 91 and 250 points down respectively. History would suggest that Mostert in particular could kickstart his Sprint Cup hopes, with his seven podiums in Perth the most of any driver in the field this weekend. They need podiums at a minimum to get their seasons back on track.

Can DJR bury its Tassie demons?

After a breakout weekend in New Zealand, Dick Johnson Racing fell in a heap in Tasmania. Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison were scrubbed from the Race 11 results, and were 23rd and 24th for the weekend. The team has solid form in Perth, but that was in the Penske era. The team wants wins, as does Kostecki, who is chasing his first victory on home soil. Last time out, both Anton De Pasquale and Davison were solid if unspectacular, both finishing inside the top six on Sunday. If they can get the job done, watch out. If they can't, and yes, there's a long way to go, but both drivers could be at risk of missing Finals.

Will the Penrite push continue?

One of the stories of the year so far has been the impressive start to 2025 for Penrite Racing, and especially for Matt Payne. Taupō was a career weekend for the Kiwi, who claimed the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy with two wins from three starts, whilst his Sunday drive in Tasmania to hold off Feeney by 0.05s was superb. Perth is another venue that hasn't been traditionally strong for Penrite, but the Tasmania is proof that strategically, they're a match for the best in pit lane. Kai Allen could also be one to watch this weekend, having always run well in both Super2 and Super3 in the west.

Will we see more movement in the 10?

Looking to '24, there wasn't much change in the top 10 order after the first four rounds. There has been plenty of change already this season, and there are some big names outside the top 10 wanting to make a splash. There are six rounds left before drivers lock themselves into the Finals. Who can force their way into the top 10 in Perth, and who will drop out? Of the drivers around the bubble, Ryan Wood could be the big mover in Perth, having starred with a front row start and a brave drive to fourth in the 2024 opener, before backing it up with eighth on Sunday.

Who will manage the weekend best?

CARCO.com.au Raceway is a tyre killer, and juggling different compounds this weekend will be a big challenge for drivers and teams. Taupō and Tasmania were action-packed weekends, with the Super 440 format revealing some interesting storylines and form guides. Camaros swept the 2023 rounds, while it was all Fords last year. Who will make it work this weekend?