Destination NSW Sydney Test Day: A Final Pre-Race Warm-Up

The countdown is on. As the excitement surrounding Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge cross lingers in the air, the focus now shifts to the track, as Supercars heads to Sydney Motorsport Park for the highly anticipated Destination NSW Sydney Test Day. This final day of track action before the real racing begins is crucial for teams and drivers alike, offering a vital glimpse of what’s to come in the weekend’s races.

With 25 cars set to take to the track on Wednesday, the test day will provide a rare opportunity to assess who’s fast, who’s still searching for that edge, and who’s peaking at just the right time before the official racing kicks off on Friday. The 2025 season is shaping up to be a thrilling one, and the test day will play a pivotal role in setting the stage.

Will Brown: The Champion’s Challenge

For Will Brown, this year’s test day holds particular significance. As the reigning champion, Brown will head out on track in his new Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro, proudly displaying the coveted #1. While much of the pre-season chatter has centered around Triple Eight Race Engineering’s big switch to Ford, the spotlight now turns to Brown and how he handles the pressure of being the target for all competitors. If his comments in the media are any indication, Brown is well aware that he has a target on his back – but the true test will be how he rises to the occasion in 2025.

The Rebuild of Dick Johnson Racing

Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) enters the test day with fresh optimism after a solid rebuild. One win in 52 starts during the Gen3 era simply isn’t good enough for a team with such a rich history, and DJR has shown a clear desire to challenge the status quo. The signing of Brodie Kostecki and the construction of two new cars, including one featuring an Erebus-built chassis, sets the stage for an exciting 2025. With the team’s shakedown in recent weeks, they’ll be hoping the test day provides valuable data to challenge their rivals and make a statement ahead of the weekend’s races.

A Crucial Seven-Hour Window

Supercars teams will have seven precious hours on the track to get their setups dialed in before the serious racing begins. The test day will allow teams to sort out vital processes, with a 10-minute practice session before lunch devoted to practicing race starts. A 60-minute session post-lunch will be dedicated to testing the new-for-2025 fuel churns, which will be used at all Repco Sprint Cup rounds. These sessions will give teams a chance to fine-tune their strategies and set the stage for the high-stakes races ahead.

Co-Drivers and Prospective Talent

The Destination NSW Sydney Test Day isn’t just about the main drivers; it’s also an important day for co-drivers and prospective talents. Several high-profile drivers will take their first laps with new teams, including Mark Winterbottom with Tickford Racing, Tim Slade with Matt Stone Racing, and Lee Holdsworth with Team 18. Drivers like Todd Hazelwood and Tony D’Alberto (Dick Johnson Racing) will be looking to build on their shakedown performance from last week. Additionally, sportscar star Brendon Leitch will make his debut with MSR, while other teams will evaluate prospective drivers hoping to make an impact in the future.

Dark Horses, Rookies, and the Underdogs

The 2024 season had its share of surprises, with teams like Brad Jones Racing (BJR) and Matt Stone Racing (MSR) outperforming expectations. Erebus Motorsport and BJR were particularly impressive during the 2023 all-in test in Sydney, and they’ll be hoping to carry that momentum into the 2025 season.

Penrite Racing and Erebus Motorsport will also be introducing rookies Kai Allen and Cooper Murray, both of whom made brief appearances in the 2023 season but will now have a full season ahead. Then, there’s the wildcard entry of MSR’s Cameron Crick, who has generated buzz following MSR’s strong performance in 2024. Could Crick emerge as a surprise top 10 contender? The test day will give fans and teams alike a chance to find out.

The Pressure to Improve

As the 2025 season approaches, several teams will be looking to make up for lost ground. Only Triple Eight and Tickford saw both their drivers finish in the top 10 of the 2024 championship standings. Other teams, like Walkinshaw Andretti United, Penrite Racing, and Matt Stone Racing, were able to get one driver in, but have set their sights on improving further. Meanwhile, Erebus Motorsport, Team 18, and Blanchard Racing Team are hungry to break into the top ranks. DJR, despite their pedigree, was just 47 points away from getting both drivers in, while BJR was nearly on the cusp of missing out altogether. A smooth and successful test day will be vital for all these teams if they are to make a strong start to 2025.

The Road to the Weekend

The Destination NSW Sydney Test Day is not just another practice session; it’s a critical opportunity for teams and drivers to evaluate their progress, fix lingering issues, and prepare for the intense competition that lies ahead. With the 2025 season promising fierce battles, the test day will provide a valuable snapshot of who’s on form and who still has work to do.

For fans, it’s a final chance to watch the cars on track before the talking stops, and the racing begins in earnest on Friday. Keep an eye on the test day – it could be the first hint of what’s to come in a thrilling season ahead.