The top Supercars breakout prospects for 2025
Last season, Supercars.com labelled a number of drivers who could follow in Brodie Kostecki's footsteps and emerge a breakout star in 2024, headlined by Will Brown.
Brown pulled off a stunning championship victory, proving young drivers can back it up the following season and become a true star of Supercars.
While a number of drivers in the list below were highlighted last year, they hit new highs in their careers, suggesting they have even more potential in 2025.
Thomas Randle
2024 championship position: 5th
2024 key stats: 3 podiums, 1 pole, 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
Supercars.com listed Thomas Randle as a potential breakout driver for 2024, and he delivered, doubling his top five haul from 2023 and adding three more podiums to his career tally. After finishing 23rd overall in his rookie season in 2022, Randle finished 13th in 2023, and jumped to fifth last season. The only way is up, but why is Randle a breakout prospect again? Well, he's been around the poles and podiums for the last two seasons, so if he gets in victory lane, don't be surprised if he emerges as a contender in the Finals.
Matt Payne
2024 championship position: 6th
2024 key stats: 1 win, 4 podiums, 2 poles, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
Matt Payne's rookie campaign in 2023 ended with an Adelaide 500 win, but he finished 14th overall with just one additional top five finish and eight top 10s. In 2024, Payne added another win, but soared to sixth overall with 10 top fives and 15 top 10s, breaking out of the rookie mould. He also added poles to the equation. The next breakout opportunity is challenging for a championship. Now firmly Penrite Racing's lead driver, with rookie Kai Allen joining the team, Payne must lead from the front.
James Golding
2024 championship position: 7th
2024 key stats: 1 podium, 1 pole, 5 top fives, 10 top 10s
James Golding was a breakout star in 2024, improving on his 16th placing and five top 10s in 2023 to finish a credible seventh with five top 10s and 10 top 10s. As written last year, the final hurdle for Peter Xiberras’ team was silverware, and Golding pulled it off, also scoring a maiden pole. A top five championship finish was within reach last season, but wins and a top five minimum could see Golding become 2025's breakout star.
Cameron Hill
2024 championship position: 12th
2024 key stats: 1 top five, 7 top 10s
Cameron Hill endured a baptism of fire in his 2023 rookie campaign, but he banished the demons with a stunning first-up top five at Mount Panorama last February. He finished just 179 points from a surprise top 10 championship finish, which could easily have come to fruition had he not been taken out in Bathurst and Albert Park, amid a series of qualifying slip-ups. Given Matt Stone Racing won races last season, there's every chance Hill could pull off a shock podium or two if he qualifies towards the front.
Ryan Wood
2024 championship position: 16th
2024 key stats: 1 front row, 2 top fives, 7 top 10s
The driver with perhaps the highest ceiling of the 2025 grid, Ryan Wood showed glimpses of his impressive talent throughout 2024, but largely played second fiddle to Chaz Mostert. A shock front row in Perth and top fours in New Zealand and Townsville showed Wood knows how to race, and there were a number of strong runs into a Shootout. The next step is closing the gap to Mostert and fighting for his own trophies, which given his age and inexperience, would be a big headline this year.
Cooper Murray
Cooper Murray had a rollercoaster 2024, crashing out of the first two Dunlop Super2 Series races in Bathurst, claiming a surprise wildcard Shootout berth in Darwin, hunting down big names to finish fifth at the Sandown 500, and missing out on a top 10 at the Great Race due to an unfortunate penalty. With Jack Le Brocq flying home for the birth of his first child, Erebus Motorsport needed a saviour in Adelaide. Murray was the man, and he didn't go down without a fight. It was all crucial experience for a 23-year-old who has taken a liking to Gen3 machinery. Expect fireworks, and don't be surprised if trophies follow.
