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Workforce 18 pulled the fitting reign strategically, emulating Kai Allen’s profitable technique from Saturday’s race to steer dwelling Matt Payne below Security Automotive, whereas Cam Waters rounded out the rostrum to safe the general Darwin Triple Crown.
Talking after the win De Pasquale shrugged over current criticism of the crew to say their second win of the yr.
“We needed to do a superb cease to get in entrance … it’s superior to be again on the rostrum,” he stated.
“You hear exterior noise however we don’t actually take heed to it – we run our personal growth path.
“You’ll be able to’t make good groups in a single day – we’re conscious of that.
“We’re working our approach and constructing and constructing.”
Admitting the late security automotive attributable to Chaz Mostert’s engine failure with 4 laps to go “made me just a little bit nervous”, de Pasquale was in a position to cruise the win with out problem below the yellow flag.
However the identical can’t be stated for Crimson Bull Racing’s Broc Feeney who was left fuming by his crew’s name that couldn’t be undone below security automotive.
With teammate Will Brown exhibiting nice tempo behind, a swap of positions was orchestrated, on the proviso that Brown would give the place again ought to he be unable to catch Waters. However that by no means eventuated as a result of yellow flag.
“A difficult weekend, some of the difficult weekends I’ve had in my profession, it feels,” Feeney stated in a crew launch.
“In all probability a troublesome tablet to swallow, not simply due to our outcomes right here over the previous couple of years, however we all know what we’re able to doing and, in the meanwhile, we’re not doing that. We’re removed from that.
“We have been simply on the again foot the entire weekend. There are a few issues we’ve been engaged on, however from the get-go, we felt like we have been just a little bit down on energy in comparison with the opposite vehicles on the market — even the identical producer, the opposite Mustangs.
“So we felt like that’s been a little bit of a hurdle all weekend, making an attempt to get on prime of that. But additionally, automotive tempo simply hasn’t been there total.”
“We sadly misplaced the groups’ championship [lead], which hurts just a little bit, however Broc’s nonetheless main the drivers’ championship, so it’s not all doom and gloom. No panic stations. But it surely was a troublesome weekend by our commonplace,” crew boss Jamie Whincup stated.
“Now I’ve simply obtained to try to calm a number of drivers down and group everybody collectively.”
There was drama even earlier than the race with Brodie Kostecki withdrawing, adopted by Thomas Randle a short while later.
Randle had battled warmth stress attributable to a failed cool swimsuit on Saturday whereas Kostecki was battling each sickness and a again criticism that noticed the star taken to hospital.
“I knew Brodie was unwell in all probability per week in the past after we caught up at a sponsor occasion,” his substitute Todd Hazelwood instructed Supercars.com.
“Clearly been speaking with him and monitoring his scenario. I’m at all times right here to assist Brodie wherever I can. I helped out lots on early within the week with Observe to City and tried to provide him a while.
“The crew’s been speaking with me that there’s probably a risk of getting to leap in, significantly this morning.”
Fox Motorsport’s personal Mark Winterbottom was the late call-up for Randle, leaping from his on-air position right into a race swimsuit within the house of an hour.
“The most important drama was leaping in and placing my foot on the brake the primary time and the cushion insert I had slid down … I couldn’t actually see over the wheel for the following 70 laps!” he laughed.
“We have been speaking on the grid … then I needed to run again get on the scales to get weighed, needed to go to a driver’s briefing as a result of I hadn’t executed one (laughs).
“I undoubtedly may do lots higher job with a bit extra prep.
“However how enjoyable! One o’clock I’m speaking to you, two o’clock I’m within the race seat.”
All eyes have been on Waters and Matt Payne off the entrance row of the grid, as they resumed their heated battle from Saturday, and the Fords have been very evenly matched off the road.
However remarkably, for the primary time since 2012, the winner didn’t begin from the entrance row of the grid throughout all three days in Darwin as Workforce 18’s pit technique paid off.
Payne claimed second whereas Waters’ third place noticed him named the spherical’s winner – and transfer into third on the championship standings.
“It’s been a troublesome yr – to have a very nice constant weekend, it’s superior. We actually wanted that,” he instructed Fox Motorsport.
“While you’re not going nicely, you query your self, the blokes query themselves.
“There’s at all times instances you begin questioning issues … been at Tickford for a very long time – we’ve obtained every others backs. We’ll preserve digging deep collectively.
“The job’s not over – it’s one weekend.”
Will Brown and Broc Feeney completed fourth and fifth for Crimson Bull Ampol Racing, the pair having swapped locations late within the race, with Allen ending sixth.
The highest 10 was rounded out by Ryan Wooden, Jack Le Brocq, Cameron Hill, and David Reynolds.
The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship continues on the NTI Townsville 500 from July 10-12.
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