v8 supercars

Adelaide Grand Final: Feeney Holds Nerve as Title Race Erupts in Chaos

The bp Adelaide Grand Final has delivered exactly what it promised: a high-stakes, high-octane conclusion to the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship. As the street circuits of the Adelaide Parklands circuit bite back, the championship battle has been whittled down to a fierce duel between the young gun of Triple Eight Race Engineering and the seasoned veteran of Walkinshaw Andretti United.

For fans of V8 Supercars, the events of the last 48 hours have been nothing short of dramatic. With the points reset for the finals series, every corner, every overtake, and every mechanical gremlin carries the weight of a season’s worth of effort. As we head into the final showdown, the narrative has shifted from a three-way dogfight to a head-to-head clash for the crown, with the reigning champion left watching from the sidelines.

The Main Narrative: A Tale of Team Orders and Resilience

The defining moment of the Adelaide weekend—and perhaps the entire season—unfolded in the dying seconds of Race 2. The atmosphere was electric as rookie Ryan Wood, driving for Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU), found himself defending against his own teammate, Chaz Mostert, while chasing down the race leader, Broc Feeney.

In a move that prioritized the championship over individual glory, Wood was instructed to "sidestep" for Mostert on the final lap. While Feeney held firm to take the win, the swap handed Mostert a crucial nine points, keeping his title hopes alive.

The official report from Speedcafe.com confirmed the result: "Feeney wins as Wood gifts Mostert second in Adelaide Race 2." This single moment of team strategy has set up a winner-takes-all Race 33, where Feeney and Mostert will be the only two drivers with a mathematical shot at the title.

Recent Updates: The Weekend's Rollercoaster

The path to this dramatic finale has been paved with twists and turns. Here is the chronological breakdown of the crucial developments at the bp Adelaide Grand Final.

Saturday: Pole Position and The Costly Gremlin

Saturday began with Broc Feeney reasserting his authority by claiming the Boost Mobile Pole Award. According to Supercars.com, Feeney secured his 18th pole of the 2025 season, a staggering statistic that underlines his dominance in qualifying. He shared the front row with rookie Aaron Cameron, signaling a mix of experience and emerging talent at the sharp end of the grid.

However, Saturday was a disaster for the championship leader's closest rival. Chaz Mostert suffered a compromised qualifying session due to an electrical gremlin. As reported in supplementary research, Mostert was left "seething" after the issue prevented him from progressing to the Top Ten Shootout. He was forced to start from P12, a deficit that seemed insurmountable for a driver chasing a title.

Sunday: The Race That Changed Everything

Sunday’s Race 2 was the crucible. Will Brown, the reigning champion, entered the weekend admitting it was a "make or break" day. Unfortunately for Brown, it broke. He was involved in a wild incident that effectively ended his campaign, leaving him 76 points behind the leader—a gap too large to close in just one remaining race.

Meanwhile, the on-track battle between Wood and Feeney captivated the nation. Wood, running long, chased down Feeney in the closing stages. The team radio crackled with tension. As noted in reports on the post-race reaction, Wood acknowledged the team strategy, stating, "Obviously it works out well," regarding the swap that allowed Mostert to leapfrog him into second place.

The result leaves the standings incredibly tight. Feeney leads Mostert by just 23 points. In the high-scoring format of the finals, this margin is razor-thin.

Contextual Background: The Weight of History

To understand the gravity of this weekend, one must look at the history of the Supercars Championship. Formerly known as V8 Supercars, this category is the pinnacle of Australian motorsport. The rivalry between teams like Triple Eight and Walkinshaw Andretti United is steeped in history, reminiscent of the Brock vs. Skaife eras.

The current format, which includes a finals series resetting the points, was designed to manufacture exactly this kind of drama. It forces teams to balance aggressive racecraft with calculated strategy. For Triple Eight, they are looking to continue their dominance of the modern era. For WAU, this is their best chance in years to upset the established order.

The Human Element

The drama isn't just about cars; it's about the human stories. Ryan Wood, the rookie caught in the middle of a team order that handed the race win away, showed immense maturity. His selfless act (or imposed sacrifice, depending on the perspective) highlights the team-first culture WAU is trying to foster.

Conversely, Broc Feeney represents the new breed of drivers—cool under pressure. Despite having a target on his back all season, he has maintained a consistency that champions are made of.

Immediate Effects: The Points Table Shakeup

The immediate impact of Race 2 is a compressed title fight and the elimination of the reigning champion.

Current Standings Snapshot (Based on Race 2 Results): * Broc Feeney (Triple Eight): Leading * Chaz Mostert (WAU): 23 points behind * Will Brown (Triple Eight): 76 points behind (Mathematically eliminated from winning the title in Adelaide) * Kai Allen (Grove Racing): 88 points behind

For Will Brown, the admission that today was "make or break" has come true. As reported by The Canberra Times, the title race took a "dramatic turn," costing the reigning champion everything. His focus now shifts to securing the best possible finish for the team, but the individual glory of a back-to-back championship has slipped away.

The "cost" mentioned in the headlines refers not just to Brown's lost points, but also to the mechanical niggles that have plagued Walkinshaw Andretti United all year. Mostert’s electrical gremlin on Saturday was a microcosm of their season—speed available, but reliability holding them back. Yet, through sheer grit, Mostert has dragged himself back into contention.

The Strategy of Survival

The fuel-saving tactics and tire management witnessed in Adelaide underscore the sophistication of modern Supercars racing. The decision by WAU to swap Wood and Mostert wasn't just about that race; it was a calculated move to maximize points against the Triple Eight threat.

If Wood had held position and finished second, Feeney would have won, and the gap to Mostert would have been significantly larger. By letting Mostert through, WAU ensured their lead driver closed the gap to 23 points. In the context of the finals series, where points are awarded for race wins, podiums, and positions, this 23-point gap is the difference between needing a miracle and needing just one perfect race.

Future Outlook: The Grand Stand Finish

As the dust settles on the Sunday race, all eyes turn to the final race of the Adelaide Grand Final. This is it. One race to decide the 2025 Champion.

The Scenario

Broc Feeney needs to win or finish well ahead of Chaz Mostert. He has the pace, as evidenced by his 18 poles and race wins this year. He simply needs to keep his nose clean and avoid the chaos that street racing inevitably brings.

Chaz Mostert is in a must-win situation. He needs to overhaul a 23-point deficit. This means he likely needs to win the race and set the fastest lap, hoping Feeney finishes outside the top few positions. Given his starting position on Sunday was much better than Saturday (thanks to the previous race results), and his resilience shown throughout the weekend, he is more than capable of pulling it off.

The X-Factor: Will Brown

Though mathematically out of the title fight, Will Brown remains a wildcard. As a Triple Eight driver, he has the speed to interfere at the front. If he can recover from his weekend troubles, he could play the role of rear-gunner for Feeney, holding up Mostert. However, with his championship hopes gone, his motivation will be purely for race victory and team orders.

What to Watch For

1. Qualifying Pace: Feeney’s ability to grab the pole is his biggest weapon. If he starts at the front, he controls the race pace.
2. The First Lap: Adelaide’s tight Turn 1 and Turn 2 are notorious for first-lap incidents. Both Feeney and Mostert cannot afford a DNF.
3. Mechanical Reliability: After Mostert’s electrical issues and the general attr