Drivers intrigued by the prospect of team tactics in Finals

The prospect of team tactics in the new-for-2025 Finals system is one that is intriguing some of the stars of the Repco Supercars Championship.

For the first time in Supercars history, the top 10 drivers in points will have their tallies reset ahead of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, before duking it out over the final three events to be crowned champion.

That top 10 will be whittled down to four at the bp Adelaide Grand Final, however some drivers believe that it could be those outside of championship contention who will have the biggest say in the title race.

It became a topic of discussion on the most recent episode of Supercars' Drivers Only podcast, featuring Tickford Racing's Thomas Randle, Blanchard Racing Team's Aaron Cameron, and PremiAir Racing's Richie Stanaway.

Randle, himself 142 points inside the Finals bubble and sixth in points, believes that if a driver finds themselves knocked out of contention at either Surfers Paradise or Sandown, they could find themselves playing rear gunner come Adelaide.

"I think what's interesting, is if you get both team cars into The Finals, and let's say one gets knocked out in the first go, how that team car will try and help the other team car.

"Let's say Chaz [Mostert] makes the final four but [Ryan] Woody doesn't, what would happen in team land, would he look after Chaz?

"If you make to the final seven but not the final four, you're guaranteed fifth to seventh in the championship aren't you?" posed Randle.

Blanchard Racing Team rookie Aaron Cameron said in response: "I reckon people have to be calm about it, but they do it in NASCAR all the time; manufacturers, teammates, people don't take people out, but will hold other people up to help their teammate.

"I hope it happens in The Finals, because I think it's good for that whole rivalry. It starts more of that, we don't have enough rivalries going on."

Team and manufacturer tactics at Supercars finales are a topic that has been at the centre of much controversy in the past, most notably at Phillip Island in 2006.

With Rick Kelly in contention for the title for TWR Australia's HSV Dealer Team, HSV teammate Garth Tander and sister team leader Mark Skaife of the Holden Racing Team played rear gunner against Triple Eight and Ford's Craig Lowndes.

Skaife copped a bad sportsmanship flag in the opening race, before Tander was handed a drive through penalty for blocking Lowndes in Race 2.

The weekend ended with the two protagonists coming to blows in the final race of the season, with Kelly pushing Lowndes into a spin that effectively handed the title to Kelly on the spot.

It is scenes like this that has 2023 Bathurst 1000 winner Richie Stanaway more cautious about team tactics, with the former GP2 race winner saying he'd rather see a straight fight between the final four.

"If there are some team cars blocking for other cars, it's not how I would like to go about it if it was me, but I'm sure it's probably going to happen, we'll have to wait and see," said Stanaway.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the betr Darwin Triple Crown from June 20-22. Tickets for the event are on sale now.