2025 Sydney test preview: One final day to iron out the kinks

With the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge cross fresh in the memory, it's time to get cars on the track at the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day.

Supercars arrives at Sydney Motorsport Park for the final glance at who’s hot, who’s not and who’s aiming to hit the sweet spot before we go racing on Friday.

There will be 25 cars on track on Wednesday, and with plenty of changes for 2025, the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day could give us somewhat of a form guide for the weekend ahead.

The champ in the #1

For the first time, Will Brown heads out on track with the champion's #1 on his Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro. Triple Eight Race Engineering stole the headlines in the summer with its blockbuster Ford switch news, but now the attention is on 2025, it will be fascinating to see how Brown approaches his first week as reigning champion. If his comments in the media this week are anything to go by, Brown knows he has a target on his back.

Can Kostecki get DJR back in form?

The rebuild of Dick Johnson Racing has been impressive, and is a clear sign of intent from the team that it isn't keen on being nearly-rans. One win in 52 starts in the Gen3 era, for the team that homologated the Ford, isn't good enough, and DJR knows it. Signing Brodie Kostecki and building two new cars, one of which will have an Erebus-built chassis in Sydney, offers a tantalising prospect for 2025. After a solid shakedown last week, DJR will be hoping for a strong test day to keep their rivals guessing this weekend.

Ironing out the kinks

There are seven hours for teams and drivers to get everything bedded in before Friday, and Supercars has given teams a chance to get processes sorted. A 10-minute session has been included prior to lunch to do practice race starts. Then, a 60-minute session has been included after lunch to get valuable practice with the new-for-2025 fuel churns, which will be used at all Repco Sprint Cup rounds.

Co- and prospective drivers behind the wheel

Expect to see plenty of signed and prospective co-drivers get seat time on Wednesday. The likes of Mark Winterbottom (Tickford Racing), Tim Slade (Matt Stone Racing) and Lee Holdsworth (Team 18) will debut with their new teams, while Todd Hazelwood and Tony D'Alberto (Dick Johnson Racing) will be keen to add to their shakedown hauls from last week. A number of teams are also set to evaluate some prospective drivers, led by sportscar ace Brendon Leitch's first laps in an MSR Supercar.

Dark horses, underdogs and rookies

Triple Eight, Tickford, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Penrite Racing, Erebus Motorsport, Matt Stone Racing and Brad Jones Racing won at least one race last season, the latter two results arguably the best dark horse results of 2024. Erebus and BJR flew out of the gates in the 2023 all-in test in Sydney, and it was reflected by both teams' impressive results. Penrite Racing and Erebus have two rookies in Kai Allen and Cooper Murray, who got last-minute cameos in Adelaide last November and rookie days at The Bend last week. Then, there's MSR wildcard Cameron Crick, who offers one of the biggest question marks of all. Given MSR's pace last season, could Crick prove a surprise top 10 contender?

Those who need to improve

Only Triple Eight and Tickford got both drivers into the top 10 in the 2024 championship standings, while Walkinshaw Andretti United, Penrite Racing, PremiAir Racing, Matt Stone Racing, Dick Johnson Racing and Brad Jones Racing got one driver in. That leaves Erebus Motorsport, Team 18 and Blanchard Racing Team with a goal to chase. DJR was 47 points away from getting both drivers in, with BJR on the cusp of missing out. Everyone wants to start 2025 on the front foot, and a smooth, successful test day will be the tonic.

The new-look grid will roll out at the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 19, and Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round on February 21-23. Tickets for the test day and Sydney 500 - Opening Round are available now.