Team 18 happy with parity, wants qualifying fix

Team 18 Team Principal Adrian Burgess is “happy” with aero parity between the three Supercar models competing this year, but insists his team has to do better in qualifying.

The Chevrolet Camaro received balance revisions after Taupō and Tasmania, with aero balance shifted rearwards.

Aerodynamic parity testing was previously completed at the Windshear facility in America over the off-season, with a Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Toyota GR Supra all making the trip over.

Team 18 has reeled off four consecutive rounds with at least one podium finish, with Anton De Pasquale on the podium in three of the last five races.

Speaking after Perth, where De Pasquale claimed two podiums, Burgess claimed the Camaro is on par with the Ford and Toyota.

“The car is probably better than it was before [the aero change], but we don’t have any more or any less than what the other two [cars] have,” Burgess told media.

“We’re now equal with the others, I’d say. We’re not in front, not behind. We’re quite happy with that, but we’ve just got to do a better job with our set-up.

“We’re still learning our set-up. Our set-up changed a lot. But more of what we were used to last year is coming back into play and becoming relevant again, so I think we’re back where we should be.”

De Pasquale has been GM’s clear standout in 2026, and is only 55 points behind fourth placed Brodie Kostecki. Pre-Perth, De Pasquale called on more GM drivers to join him in the top 10.

The #18 DEWALT Camaro, though, recorded a qualifying average of 9.8 across the last nine races.

“I think our biggest problem is still we’re not doing a good enough job with the qualifying car,” Burgess said.

“I think we’ve shown we can race at the front if we can get ourselves there. We just need to execute and produce a better qualifying car.”

De Pasquale can mathematically clinch his Finals berth at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440.