Grand Finale doesn’t disappoint

Adelaide always delivers. It’s a place where championships are won and lost, where heroes are made, and where the noise of the season reaches its absolute peak. But this year… this year felt different. It felt bigger. It felt like the sport was stepping into a new era – and doing it on one of the most iconic pieces of tarmac in the world.

Love it or hate it, the new Finals system delivered.

And at the centre of it all was Chaz Mostert – who finally realised a dream he has chased for more than a decade.

Yes, it’s official: Chaz Mostert is the 2025 Supercars Champion, and the way he did it will go down in history.

Mostert came into the final race 23 points behind Broc Feeney – a driver who, up until the weekend, looked almost untouchable. Feeney had 14 wins, 19 pole positions, and had been the benchmark all season long. But this year the championship wasn’t awarded on points accumulated over the season; it was awarded via the new Finals system and that meant to win the series you needed to survive each of the finals rounds at Gold Coast, Sandown and Adelaide.

And survival was the word of the day on Sunday.

Just moments after the lights went out, everything changed. Mostert’s young Kiwi teammate, Ryan Wood, made an aggressive and perhaps controversial move on Feeney at Turn 6, and the contact sent the #88 Camaro into a spin. Feeney tumbled to the back of the pack. And then when Broc was charging his way back through the field, the car started coughing, spluttering, refusing to give him the power he needed. From that moment on, he was fighting the car more than the field – and the championship began slipping away.

Mostert, meanwhile, was the picture of composure. No panic. No desperation. Just a driver who knew exactly what he had to do. He eased through those early laps, kept the tyres in good condition, and worked his way forward. He knew the title was there to be taking if he stayed calm.

By the time the final laps arrived, Feeney’s hopes were gone and Mostert just had to bring it home. He crossed the line second behind Matt Payne, and that was enough. Enough to crown Mostert the 28th champion in Supercars history.

And the emotion… well, it was all over his face.

Mostert could barely get the words out. He said he’d dreamt of this day since he was seven years old karting. He compared the feeling to winning Bathurst – twice – and said he couldn’t believe he’d finally done it.

For a driver who’s had speed, heartbreak, injuries, triumphs and reinventions… this was a career-defining moment.

“I’m pretty out of breath and my brain is scattered,” Mostert said.

“I’ve been hunting down this day for so many years and I can’t believe I have done it, I’m a Supercars Champion!

“I’ve won Bathurst a couple of time before, this feels exactly like that. I’ve dreamt of this day since I was seven years old go-karting.

“We had our mindset on the finals since the beginning of the year, and it’s paid off. You couldn’t script it any better for us. I can’t thank everyone enough, from our team to partners, fans, members, friends and family!”

And for the Walkinshaw team – now preparing to switch to Toyota in 2026 – it was the perfect farewell to the Blue Oval.

But while the championship drama stole the spotlight, the weekend also had other major announcements that will shape the sport for years to come.

One of the biggest was the confirmation that the Adelaide Grand Final is now locked in until 2034. That means a full decade of guaranteed finales on the Adelaide streets – a huge win for fans, teams, and the South Australian economy. Last year alone, the event delivered more than $72 million in economic benefits, and with the Finals Series now in play, the government says the value is only growing.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the event continues to exceed expectations and remains a truly thrilling end to the Supercars season. Supercars CEO James Warburton also praised the partnership, saying nothing matches Adelaide’s history and atmosphere, and that securing it long-term gives the sport a strong platform for the future.

And if that wasn’t enough, we also learned that the 2026 Grand Final will move one week earlier, now scheduled for November 26–29. It’s a small shift, but a strategic one – keeping the momentum rolling directly from the Sandown semi-final and sustaining the intensity that the new Finals Series has created.

Yes, the Finals Series has already proven a hit, and now the calendar is being fine-tuned to maximise engagement and drama.

Back on track, the weekend also marked the end of several major chapters in Supercars.

James Courtney, Will Davison, and Nick Percat all completed their final laps as full-time drivers. Three careers that span hundreds of races, championship fights, Bathurst campaigns, heartbreaks and comebacks – all crossing the finish line one last time. It was emotional stuff.

As per usual, Adelaide gave us everything: controversy, celebration, long-term stability for the sport, and a brand-new champion in Chaz Mostert.

It was also the final race for several drivers in their current machinery. Walkinshaw’s final Ford outing before its switch to Toyota and Triple Eight’s final Chevrolet Camaro race before returning to Ford in 2026. The grid is going to look very different next season – and that’s even before we factor in the crop of new rookies.

And they’re coming in hot.

Next year, we’ll see five fresh faces join the full-time grid: Rylan Gray, Jackson Walls, Jobe Stewart, Zach Bates, and Jayden Ojeda. A talented group stepping into the most competitive touring car championship in the world. It’s going to bring new dynamics, new rivalries, and new storylines – and after a season as unpredictable as this one, fans should be excited.

With all that ahead, the countdown is already on. The 2026 Supercars Championship kicks off February 20 at Sydney Motorsport Park, and if the finale in Adelaide was any indication, next year is going to be massive.