GM Supercars boss downplays Finals 'games'

GM Motorsports Supercars Racing Program Manager Simon McNamara isn't worrying about gamesmanship in the Finals, as Chevrolet aims to bounce back from Bathurst.

All three manufacturers will be represented in the 2026 Repco Supercars Finals Series, which commences at this weekend's Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Ford has six Mustangs — Matt Payne, Broc Feeney, Will Brown, Brodie Kostecki, Kai Allen and Cam Waters — from four different teams, versus two Chevrolets and two Toyotas.

While the Blue Oval has strength in numbers, GM has representation across two teams in Team 18 and Matt Stone Racing, with Anton De Pasquale and Jack Le Brocq.

Team orders are allowed in Supercars, per Rule 25.1.1, which states: "an instruction to a Driver or Team member, either verbal or otherwise the effect of which may interfere with a race result," means a team can impose its own orders.

However, per Rule 25.1.2, teams cannot be influenced by third parties, such as "any sponsor, supplier, entity or related entity, including an Automobile manufacturer, importer or their representative."

In short, teams can make calls, such as swapping cars around, but manufacturers cannot have an influence. However, GM squads are aligned in the 'Team Chevy' alliance, whereby data is shared across all Camaro squads.

While chastened by the Bathurst result, when he ran out of fuel in the lead on the last lap, De Pasquale isn't losing sight on what's at stake across the next three rounds.

When asked if he expects any gamesmanship in the Finals, McNamara said on Supercars' Pit Lane Preview, presented by Equip Super: "Oh, absolutely. We saw it at the end of last year."

However, McNamara quipped that won't be happening on the GM side, instead maintaining the goal is clear: get both De Pasquale and Le Brocq through to the next round.

“We don't worry about the games,” McNamara continued.

"We're here to help with two cars, one and two can go off in distance, and the others can do whatever they want to do."

Toyota is represented by homologation team Walkinshaw TWG Racing, which has reigning champion Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood in the drop zone entering the weekend.

Ford, meanwhile, has four teams in the Finals: two cars from Penrite Racing and Red Bull Ampol Racing, and one each from Dick Johnson Racing and Tickford Racing.

There have been a number of Ford-on-Ford incidents in the last 12 months; notably, Payne and Waters took each other out at Sandown last year, before clashing repeatedly in Darwin. Allen sent Kostecki into the sand in Perth, where Payne and Feeney also clashed disputing the lead.

When asked if Fords could trip over each other in the Finals, 2010 Supercars champion James Courtney said: "Potentially, and inter-team battles as well.

"They're both going to be wanting to fight to stay inside that bubble, and stay within the championship.

"Triple Eight wants to be back at the front of pit lane. Broc Feeney wants to win the championship they lost last year at that last event.

"There's going to be a lot of fighting still. No one's going to take it easy on each other."

Track action commences on Friday.