Anton De Pasquale Claims Sydney 500 Victory, Takes Championship Lead

Anton De Pasquale Triumphs at Sydney 500 to Seize Championship Lead

In a dramatic showdown at the Sydney 500, Anton De Pasquale held off a relentless charge from Brodie Kostecki to secure his first Supercars victory since 2023. The intense 52-lap race at Sydney Motorsport Park saw De Pasquale cross the finish line just 0.367 seconds ahead of Kostecki, marking a pivotal moment in his nine-year career as he now leads the championship for the first time.

Strategic Gambles and Tense Finishes Define Race

The final stages of the race were electrifying, with Kostecki's late pit-stop strategy setting up a nail-biting chase over the last 10 laps. Despite the pressure, De Pasquale maintained his composure to clinch his 10th career win in the factory-supported Chevrolet Camaro, ending Ford's five-race winning streak at the venue that dated back to 2023. This victory also represents only the second win in 408 race starts for Team 18, following Mark Winterbottom's 2023 Darwin success.

Reflecting on the win, De Pasquale acknowledged the challenges of stepping into the role as Chevrolet's homologation team, replacing Triple Eight. "It's hard to win in this sport," he said. "This is the hardest it's been in my experience. I'll take the championship numbers and try to keep them for another day." His teammate David Reynolds finished fifth, contributing to Team 18's strong performance.

Chaos and Penalties Shake Up the Grid

The race was not without its drama, as an early engine failure for Matt Stone Racing's Andre Heimgartner brought out a yellow flag on lap 10, prompting a flurry of pit stops. Kostecki, who was running second at the time, dropped to fourth but later mounted a fierce comeback after his team's strategic decision to pit later than the field. "We were hoping for something different," Kostecki remarked. "You need a Hail Mary to win from there with only 20 laps to go."

Incidents further down the order added to the excitement. Rookie Zach Bates was involved in a collision caused by a loose wheel from Jayden Ojeda's car, while Broc Feeney lost his series lead after finishing sixth, hampered by a 15-second penalty for an unsafe release in pit lane. Feeney's Triple Eight teammate Will Brown also faced a similar penalty for a pit lane infringement, finishing 15th. Defending champion Chaz Mostert impressed with a climb from 22nd on the grid to 12th place.

Championship Standings and Upcoming Action

With this win, De Pasquale now tops the championship standings with 160 points, followed by Matt Payne in second, 11 points adrift. Broc Feeney sits third, 21 points behind, while Brodie Kostecki and Cam Waters round out the top five. The weekend concludes with another 52-lap race on Sunday afternoon, offering fans more high-octane action. Live coverage will be available on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport, starting at 1pm.

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