Massive Finals tension on the Gold Coast after wild start
Anton De Pasquale, Jack Le Brocq delayed in double GM blow
David Reynolds forced into garage after lap 1 incident
Team 18 has been struck down by an awful lap 1 on the Gold Coast, with Anton De Pasquale and David Reynolds both caught up in incidents.
De Pasquale, who started 21st after a disastrous qualifying, clashed with Kai Allen on the run to the first corner, and sustained a right rear puncture.
Later around the lap, Reynolds was escorted into the barriers at Turn 13, also by Allen, who himself is fighting to stay in the Supercars Finals.
Jack Le Brocq, De Pasquale and Allen started 20th, 21st and 22nd, and were delayed by the slow-starting Reynolds, as the Red Bull Ampol Fords streaked away at the front.
Reynolds returned to the race on lap 5, with the field under the control of the Shannons Safety Car.
The Safety Car was deployed as De Pasquale's tyre came apart on the run to pit entry.
De Pasquale restarted 20th ahead of James Golding, Rylan Gray, Le Brocq and Reynolds, the quintet all stopping under the Safety Car.
Jobe Stewart, meanwhile, was forced into the garage with a gearbox issue.
