PODCAST: Rising star aiming for podium at Perth

PremiAir Racing youngster James Golding is heading to the fifth round of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship in Perth this weekend with a spring in his step after nearly claiming a podium last time out at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains.

He believes he and the team are in “the best place we’ve been” and is bullish about his chances at the Western Australian circuit.

“The team is growing alot; in size as well as in performance,” he told Allan Edwards in this week’s episode of Supercars Travel Race for the Championship podcast.

“There’s certainly been ups and downs and we’re still a long way from where we want to be, but it’s definitely a place I’m enjoying being at and being on that journey to try and get to the top,” he said.

Golding, who claimed his first and only podium at Sandown last year, says he will be aiming for a top three finish in Perth and that it is his goal to be fighting for a podium in every round.

“We’re just trying to get the consistency now to be fighting for the podium every round,” he said.

“I think we’re probably in the best place we’ve been in at the moment so I’m looking forward to getting to Perth. I’ve always enjoyed driving that track and I have been pretty quick around there.”

Golding is currently sitting 11th in the Championship – just five points off that elusive 10th place required to make the cut for the ‘Finals’, and he says he is a fan of Supercars new for 2025 ‘Finals’ points system.

“For me I think it’s a good idea,” he said.

“I think it keeps everyone in the in the mix for longer. It stops anyone just getting good points constantly and jumping away in the championship rather than actually winning a lot of races.”

Golding, who has performed well in previous years at the Bathurst 1000, says he gives himself every chance of winning the Great Race later in the season.

“We’ve pretty much been up there every year. I’ve driven with them (PremiAir) at that track so I don’t see it being any different. Obviously it’s going to be on a different tyre… I don’t expect to be on the front row, but I don’t expect to be out of the top 10. We’ll rock up and see where we are.”

Golding is excited to once again be sharing the driving duties with the evergreen David Russell in this year’s endurance races at Bathurst and The Bend.

“He’s got a lot of experience. You know he’s done a lot of different driving in his career, so it’s great to have him in there and have his opinion to help boost the whole team up,” Golding said.

Round five of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, the Perth Super440, will be held a Wanneroo Raceway from June 6-8.