Team 18 has wrapped up the New Zealand double-header at Ruapuna Raceway, with DEWALT Racing’s Anton De Pasquale securing a front row start before finishing 11th, while Snowy River Racing’s David Reynolds recovered to 13th in a chaotic Race 13.

Qualifying showed promising signs for the team, with De Pasquale progressing through to Part 2 in 10th before advancing into the Top Ten Shootout in sixth. A standout lap in the Shootout saw him surge onto the front row for the final race of the weekend.

Reynolds faced a more challenging session, qualifying 21st after continuing to work through car balance issues.

The 200km finale got off to a messy start, with Reynolds caught up in a Lap 1 incident at Turn 8 as multiple cars collided.

De Pasquale initially held position off the line but was passed early and forced wide by Wood at Turn 2, dropping him out of the top ten. As the race unfolded, he opted for an early pit stop to take on fuel and tyres in an attempt to undercut those around him in the lead pack.

Reynolds stopped two laps later, however a shorter fuel limited his ability to push across the next stint.

Further drama struck Reynolds later in the race when he was spun by Bates at Turn 4, with no penalty issued for the incident.

A late Safety Car with five laps remaining provided one final opportunity, with Reynolds diving into the pits for fresh tyres and a splash of fuel. He capitalised in the closing laps, gaining four positions to finish 13th at the chequered flag.

De Pasquale hovered around the edge of the top ten in the final stint and mounted a last-lap challenge, ultimately finishing 11th.

The team will now pack down and return to Melbourne, with cars and equipment set to be prepared for Round 5 of the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship at the Tasmania Super440 on May 22–24.

RESULTS & QUOTES

Anton De Pasquale, driver #18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Qualifying (Race 13): 6th (1:21.3732)
Shootout: 2nd (1:21.1293)
Race 13: 11th

“Last day in New Zealand. A big couple of weeks on the road, a lot of races and heaps going on.

“A mixed bag final day for us. Some really good turnaround in qualifying, the front row in the shootout compared to where we were the day before on that tyre, so that was really positive and really good.

“The race, not a lot happened. Got an average start and then got unloaded on the restart. We had some fuel dramas and just dabbled around for the rest of the race and that is all.”

David Reynolds, driver #20 Snowy River Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Qualifying (Race 13): 21st (1:21.9782)
Race 13: 13th

“I knew it was going to be tough because the last few days have been even tougher, but we took a bit of a swing at the car, not a big swing but an educated guess, and I think it half paid off.

“All weekend I’ve had no grip front or rear, but in qualifying the front was alive, it was energised. I could half use it, it was just making way too much grip and the rear couldn’t hang on.

“We did a little bit better on the timesheet but not overall position. On my best lap I made one actual drama, and if I didn’t do that I think it would’ve got me in, so I’m pretty disappointed with that.

“In the race I got a reasonable start and made up four or five spots on the first lap. Then there was a huge crash and I got caught up in it, had to take evasive action and go all the way around the outside and lost heaps of spots.

“At the pit stop we didn’t put enough fuel in, and that made the race basically impossible. I just had to save way too much fuel through both stints.

“The Safety Car came with five laps to go, we put some tyres on and took a swing at it and made up a couple of spots. We ended up 13th, which is a lot better than starting 21st.”