Broc Feeney has delivered a commanding performance to claim his maiden home victory at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, while Anton De Pasquale secured the final Semi-Final berth in a dramatic conclusion to the championship’s opening Finals round.

Feeney led from pole position in Sunday’s 85-lap finale, controlling the race to defeat Brodie Kostecki by 6.9 seconds. Chaz Mostert completed the podium after a late charge, while Matt Payne recovered from 12th on the grid to finish sixth and take the championship lead into Sandown.

 

However, the biggest drama unfolded behind the leaders, with the final transfer position coming down to the closing laps. De Pasquale’s Finals campaign appeared in serious jeopardy after an opening-lap incident involving Kai Allen and Jack Le Brocq left him with damage before a right-rear puncture forced an early pit visit. Starting 21st, the Team 18 driver was fighting to stay in championship contention.

 

Ryan Wood looked set to secure the final spot after Walkinshaw TWG Racing instructed Mostert to drop back and support his teammate. Mostert complied initially, but continued pressure from Andre Heimgartner and Erebus Motorsport rookie Jarrod Hughes kept Wood under threat.

 

The decisive moment came when Hughes and PremiAir Racing’s Cooper Murray were forced to pit for fuel inside the closing 10 laps. Hughes’ stop was attributed to a fuel-calculation mistake by Erebus Motorsport, costing the rookie a potential top-five finish.

Those late stops promoted De Pasquale into the final transfer position, while Mostert passed Wood on the final lap to secure third place.

 

De Pasquale ultimately advanced to the Semi-Final at Sandown by just 18 points, with Wood, Allen, and Le Brocq eliminated from championship contention.

Reflecting on the broader situation, De Pasquale acknowledged that teams naturally look after their remaining championship contenders, although Supercars regulations prohibit manufacturers from influencing race results.

 

Still hurting from his heartbreaking last-lap defeat at the Bathurst 1000, De Pasquale admitted an early Finals exit would have compounded the disappointment.

Instead, he heads to Sandown with another opportunity to fight for the title.

“We're going in there to win,” De Pasquale declared.

 

For Wood, the disappointment was clear as he radioed his team after the finish: “Proud of you guys, sorry I couldn't get it done.”

With Feeney celebrating a long-awaited home victory and De Pasquale surviving by the narrowest of margins, the Gold Coast finale has set the stage for an intriguing next chapter in the Supercars Finals at Sandown.