Team 18 targets strong finish on home turf

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Cub Cadet Racing’s Anton De Pasquale and TRADIE Energy Racing’s David Reynolds are gearing up for the penultimate round of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 this weekend, November 14–16.

The event marks a home round for Team 18, with Sandown Raceway in Springvale located just eight kilometres from the team’s Mount Waverley headquarters, a venue steeped in Australian motorsport history, having hosted the Australian Grand Prix six times, the World Endurance Championship twice and until this year the home of the annual pre-Bathurst 500km endurance race for Supercars.

For the first time in three years, the Sandown 500 returns to the calendar in a sprint format, featuring two 250km races across the weekend rather than the traditional 500km endurance format. The opening race will be run on the Dunlop Super Soft tyre, while Sunday’s contest will switch to the Soft compound, setting the stage for a strategic and fast-paced weekend.

Although De Pasquale was eliminated from Finals contention on the Gold Coast, both he and Reynolds remain focused on securing strong points finishes for the Drivers’ Championship standings and consolidate Team 18’s top-five position in the Teams’ Championship.

The weekend kicks off on Friday with two 30-minute practice sessions at 1:30pm and 3:55pm AEDT. Saturday features a three-phase qualifying format for Race 30 beginning at 11:50am, culminating in a Top Ten Shootout before the 81-lap, 250km Race 30 at 3:20pm. Sunday follows the same structure for Race 31, with qualifying starting at 11:20am ahead of another 250km showdown at 3:20pm.

All the action will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports, check local guides for further details.

QUOTES

Anton De Pasquale, driver #18 Cub Cadet Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“I’m really keen for Sandown, it’s a fun track and great to be back for a single-driver event this year, which is exciting.

‘The plan is to finish the year strong. We’re still pushing hard for the final rounds and I think we’ll have a pretty competitive car at Sandown to fight up the front. The goal is to go out there, give it everything, and end the season on a high here and in Adelaide.”

David Reynolds, driver #20 TRADIE Energy Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“Sandown International Motor Raceway, normally we come here during the enduro season. It’s a really cool track, old-school, bumpy, big kerbs, heaps of character, and two long straights. The surface is really old and rough, so while it looks simple on paper, it’s actually quite tricky to nail a good lap.

“There’s a lot of nuance to Sandown, how you use the kerbs, how the car rides them, how you manage the bumps, it all makes a big difference.

“It’s a fun track to drive, but tyre life is king there, especially in the races. I’ve had times where I’ve qualified on pole but couldn’t even make the podium because the car chewed its tyres up. It’s a tough one to get right, but I’m looking forward to it.”

SCHEDULE

2025 Penrite Oil Sandown 500 (All Times AEDT)

Friday 14 November

1:30pm – Practice 1 (30 mins)
3:55pm – Practice 2 (30 mins)

Saturday 15 November

11:50am – Qualifying Part 1 – Race 30 (12 mins)
12:10pm – Qualifying Part 2 – Race 30 (10 mins)
12:40pm – Qualifying Part 3 – Race 30 (Top Ten Shootout, 30 mins)
3:20 pm – Race 30 (81 laps or 1 lap after 17:13, 250 km)

Sunday 16 November

11:20am – Qualifying Part 1 – Race 31 (12 mins)
11:40am – Qualifying Part 2 – Race 31 (10 mins)
12:10pm – Qualifying Part 3 – Race 31 (Top Ten Shootout, 30 mins)
3:20pm – Race 31 (81 laps or 1 lap after 17:13, 250 km)