Why this is Sandown's highest stakes Supercars round ever

The historic Sandown Motor Raceway has staged more championship rounds than any other circuit, and has played host to some all-time races.

Where the upcoming 2025 Semi Final ranks remains to be seen, but given the pressure on drivers to get results, this Sandown round has the highest stakes of all.

Sandown’s ATCC/Supercars story began with a standalone race in 1965, which was won by Norm Beechey. Between 1970 and 1980, Sandown rounds were held in April, save for second events in September 1976 and 1977.

In the 21st century, the two-driver Sandown 500 was held between 2003-07, 2012-19, and 2023-24, and often in the shadow of the Bathurst 1000.

You have to go back to 2010 and 2011, when the ‘500’ was held at Phillip Island, where Sandown held such a pivotal role in the championship fight. Sandown hosted the penultimate round in 2010 and 2011, but it was a vastly different scenario to what drivers will face in 2025.

In 2010, James Courtney led Jamie Whincup by 50 points, with Mark Winterbottom 200 back, and Craig Lowndes 257 back. Realistically, it was down to Courtney and Whincup, with Winterbottom and Lowndes clinging on.

In 2011, only two drivers — both cars from Triple Eight — were in contention, and even then, Jamie Whincup led Lowndes by 194 points with 600 remaining.

In 2025, seven drivers are in with a shot at winning the championship. Three will be eliminated, and four will progress. Wins for a Finals driver will get them into the Grand Final. Safe to say, there’s plenty on the line.

The cast of seven that will duke it out for the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship all have their own tales to tell this year.

There's the dominant Broc Feeney, who remains the title favourite and championship leader. However, he has now gone three rounds without a win.

That's due in part to a resurgent Chaz Mostert, who returned to his unstoppable best on the streets of the Gold Coast. Walkinshaw Andretti United have been trumpeting their set-up focus on Finals throughout the campaign.

Mostert's teammate Ryan Wood, now out of Finals contention, will be Mostert's ultimate ally, however Sandown will prove the ultimate litmus test as a bogey track for the team.

Then there's the young guns at Penrite Racing. Bathurst winner Matt Payne has emerged as a genuine superstar, and often Feeney's biggest rival through the season, whilst rookie Kai Allen is showing all the traits of the champion many expect him to be. The youngest line-up on the grid is also one of the most successful, undoubtedly inspiring the seismic shift to youth throughout the 2026 grid.

Tickford duo Cam Waters and Thomas Randle also have their points to prove, Waters wanting to finally become the bride after spending what feels like his entire career as the bridesmaid, whilst Randle is desperate to prove himself a star in his own right. That elusive race win carries more weight than ever at Sandown.

And then there's the curious case of defending champion Will Brown, who for whatever reason has not been able to wrap his head around qualifying in his title defence. It's a stark contrast to his teammate Feeney's 15 poles in 29 attempts this season.

However, Brown's race pace is just as good, if not better than his record-breaking title campaign, gaining more positions than anyone on average per race. However, entering the weekend below the cut-line, you can't help but feel he needs to find one lap speed.

For all the commentary on The Finals, whether positive or negative, there’s no doubt this will be a Sandown event like no other.

The Gold Coast Elimination Final was a unique spectacle, and it delivered moves that perhaps would have happened in previous years.

Take Anton De Pasquale’s move on James Courtney, for example. The Team 18 driver had a Finals spot on the line, but threw it away with a failed move that culminated in a penalty. Would De Pasquale have made that move any other year?

Sandown is as historic as they come, and drivers can both pass and defend. You can expect Finals drivers to make moves, and some moves — good or otherwise — will generate headlines.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.