Team 18 2025 season review: Steps taken to become latest powerhouse
As 2025 winds down, Supercars.com is looking over all 11 teams and their performances in this year's Repco Supercars Championship, continuing with Team 18.
Team 18 made a big play to replace Mark Winterbottom, the driver it had built itself around, with Anton De Pasquale. While it created headlines at the time, the move ultimately delivered Charlie Schwerkolt his best teams' championship result.
If not for a penalty on the Gold Coast, De Pasquale could have fought for a drivers' championship in Adelaide.
Every team and driver has what-ifs, and Team 18 has many of those from 2025. What if David Reynolds displaced Matt Payne at The Cutting on the final lap in Bathurst? How different history would be.
Few could doubt that, after 2025, Team 18 aren't here to make up the numbers. With homologation duties well under way with General Motors, the team needed stability, and retaining Reynolds was a key sign of that.
Team 18: 2025 season results and head-to-heads
Drivers' finish: Anton De Pasquale 8th, David Reynolds 13th
Teams' finish: 5th
Best result: 2nd (Anton De Pasquale Darwin, Townsville, Sandown; David Reynolds/Lee Holdsworth Bathurst)
Qualifying head-to-head: Anton De Pasquale 25-8 David Reynolds
Race head-to-head: Anton De Pasquale 24-8 David Reynolds
What's next in 2026?
Schwerkolt's team will arguably be under more scrutiny than any other team next season, given it will be perceived to be carrying GM's hopes.
However, the 'Team Chevy' alliance doesn't start with Team 18, nor does it end there. GM expects all Chevrolet squads to work together, and given the strides Team 18 made in 2025, Camaro fans should be optimistic.
De Pasquale and Reynolds know how to win races, but both drivers have had a dry run of late. Since 2022, they combine for two race victories in Supercars, and both came in Fords.
The highly touted De Pasquale put Team 18 on his shoulders as Reynolds toiled through the first half of the season. However, once both cars found speed, De Pasquale's performance improved, and he took Reynolds with him.
If 2026 does prove to be Reynolds' last hurrah, you can bet your bottom dollar he'll be trying hard to get back to victory lane. De Pasquale, meanwhile, finally showed mongrel, and should he have better car speed next season, don't be surprised if wins start flowing.
The injection of James Courtney and Craig Lowndes will add more star power, experience and guidance to the team. It the planets alight, why not reach for the stars?
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.
