Skaife backs Wood over Randle in Finals chase
Mark Skaife puts 2025 Finals blowtorch on Thomas Randle
Randle has been inside the top 10 in points for all but one race
James Golding in 14th, is just 158 points behind Randle
Supercars Hall of Famer Mark Skaife believes that Thomas Randle could be a high-profile omission from the end-of-year Finals Series.
The 29-year-old started off the season strong with a third place in the opening race of the season at Sydney, claimed second in the opening race of the Tasmania Super 440, and has been inside the top 10 in points for all but one race.
However, his average finish since Tasmania (including that P2) is only 11.0, and a shocker of a weekend in Darwin has seen him slip dangerously close to the fight for 10th.
Finishes of 13th, 22nd, and 19th in Darwin have seen the Castrol Mustang lose almost half of its buffer to the Finals cut-off, with Randle now just 75 points clear of Anton De Pasquale in 10th.
Randle's plight appeared to have extended post-race amid concerns over his welfare, but the driver confirmed with Supercars.com after the race that he only briefly fell ill during his post-race ice bath.
James Golding in 14th, is just 158 points behind Randle, whilst young guns Ryan Wood and Kai Allen have also soared into contention with breakthrough wins and podiums.
It is the emergence of Wood in particular that has five-time Supercars champion and six-time Bathurst winner Skaife putting a line through the Castrol Mustang's chances of making the top 10 after Bathurst.
"I think that of the current 10, so we know what that looks like in terms of the championship right now, but I think that based on the performance this weekend, I think Thomas Randle – who is currently in seventh – I think he’s going to struggle to stay in there," Skaife said on Fox Sports' Supercars Trackside program.
“I think he’s not fast enough. I think Ryan Wood will go in, and Randle will come out.”
Randle has a chance to hit back immediately at the next round at Reid Park, where he has a Gen3 race average of 7.75, headlined by dual top fives last year.
The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship resumes at the NTI Townsville 500 on July 11-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Points difference to 10th
Correct to end of 2025 betr Darwin Triple Crown
Perth | Race 17 | Race 18 | Race 19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
7) Randle | +142 | +168 | +129 | +75 |
8) Heimgartner | +16 | +51 | +60 | +67 |
9) Hill | +22 | +51 | +27 | +14 |
10) De Pasquale | -45 | -21 | 0 | 0 |
11) Wood | 0 | -3 | -15 | -22 |
12) Allen | -139 | -107 | -92 | -43 |
13) Percat | -46 | 0 | -18 | -63 |
14) Golding | -27 | -7 | -35 | -83 |
*bold indicates drivers 10th or above, underline indicates driver in 10th
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