How Randle was inspired by Richards through cancer fight

Thomas Randle says he was inspired by Jason Richards’ fighting spirit to combat his own cancer treatment.

Supercars driver Richards passed away after a battle with a rare cancer form at the end of 2011. He was 35.

In the wake of Richards’ death, Supercars established the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the top point-scorer for the New Zealand round.

Tickford Racing driver Randle is determined to become the next name on the trophy, given his own fight with cancer.

Randle was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2020, but recovered following chemotherapy treatment. Randle, who has been full-time in Supercars since 2022, has been a vocal advocate for cancer awareness since.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming ITM Taupō Super 440, Randle said Richards inspired him to get through his own fight.

“I’d love to win the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, and it’s so great that they’ve had that trophy named after Jason for so many years now,” Randle said.

“What Jason not only brought as a driver but as a human, as a person, to the sport in Supercars, and I guess the battle that he went through at the end... to still be racing through that, that’s something that inspired me through my own personal challenges a few years ago.

“It would mean a lot to win that trophy.”

Randle sits ninth in the standings following a rollercoaster Grand Prix, which came after a Sydney round headlined by a podium in Race 1.

“First race of the year on the podium, double podium, Cam [Waters] had an excellent first round in Sydney, but with the Grand Prix, the most recent round for us was probably not what we would have liked,” Randle said.

“Probably our one-lap pace was where we struggled. We were stronger in the races but we didn’t really get to show it. There were a few incidents on track, we had a few little dramas here and there, and then obviously the last race got cancelled.

“As a team we did struggle [at Taupō] last year. We were quite strong in the wet but not so much in the dry, so I think we’ve learned a bit since last year from that track.

“We will be going there on the 2025 Soft [tyre], which is different to the tyre that we raced last year. Another thing to add to the mix but I think it’s going to be a great weekend I hope.”