Austin Cindric of Team Penske made his much-anticipated Supercars debut at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit on Thursday, November 27, taking on a demanding practice session as part of Tickford Racing’s wildcard initiative. The Team Penske Supercars debut saw Cindric navigating a 30-minute session that pushed all drivers, as he began his first championship weekend in the competitive category in Australia.
Cindric entered the event with an unusual level of preparation for a crossover driver. Tasked with piloting the Armor All-backed No. 5 Mustang, Cindric’s objective was to gain crucial experience on Adelaide’s narrow street layout—a circuit known for challenging even its most experienced regulars. His early laps combined careful assessment with moments of boldness, such as his assertive approach to the high-speed Turn 8.
Facing Adelaide’s Demanding Street Circuit
The Adelaide Parklands Circuit remains one of the most unforgiving tracks on the Supercars calendar, with Turn 8’s high-speed swoop notorious for causing incidents due to its narrow racing line, formidable concrete wall, and scant room for error. Officials have attempted to reduce risk by painting bright orange markings on the inside barrier following last season’s string of crashes, but the corner’s reputation persists, with only minor visual and geometric alterations year over year.
Cindric acknowledged both the allure and the risks associated with Turn 8, admitting he may have been overly ambitious during his introductory session. He explained,
“I left two and a half tenths at Turn 8, just trying to be a hero, so I did that early in the weekend. We won’t talk about that.”
— Austin Cindric, Daytona 500 Winner. Preparations and seat time came into sharp focus as he worked to acclimatize to the right-hand drive Mustang and the particular rhythm the corner demands.
He elaborated further regarding his adjustment, stating,
“I only find it intimidating because everyone doesn’t shut up about it. But past that, it’s a sketchy corner,”
he added.
“It really invites you to get back to the gas because you don’t have the revs, but it can upset the balance of the car some…. I need to remember I’m in a right-hand drive, especially through a corner like that.”
— Austin Cindric, Daytona 500 Winner. The practice session emphasised the difficulty for all drivers, including seasoned names like Brodie Kostecki, Richie Stanaway, Cameron Hill, and David Reynolds, many of whom faced issues with the revised corner. Even 2023 Supercars champion Kostecki needed field repairs after brushing the inside wall.
Performance in First Practice Session
Despite a brief scare early in the session, Cindric placed 23rd out of 25, recording a best lap of 1:20.7125, 1.136 seconds adrift of quickest runner and Tickford teammate Cam Waters. This result left him ahead of two-time champion Jack Le Brocq and earned praise from observers, given the intensity of adapting to street circuits, especially in right-hand-drive competition cars.
Support in the garage and in the commentary booth was immediate. Six-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander observed,
“Could you imagine what the first 10 minutes of that session would’ve been like for Austin? Information overload… Just to be able to calm yourself down and get within 1.1 by the end I think is a really commendable effort.”
— Garth Tander, Bathurst 1000 Winner. Meanwhile, Cam Waters, the day’s fastest driver, also acknowledged Cindric’s composed approach:
“I think it’s an awesome start for him… he had a plan that he had to stick to in that session, and he did that.”
— Cam Waters, Tickford Racing Driver.
Path Ahead and Competition at the Circuit
Progress through the opening day provides Cindric and the team with clear priorities for improvement. Turn 1 remains a particular challenge as he works to perfect braking points, while the succession of corners between Turn 4 and Turn 6 continues to test car balance and rear stability. Encouragingly, his times in the final sector indicate steady adaptation and growth as he continues his preparation for upcoming qualifying sessions.
The event also featured other notable performances, such as Jesse Love, the 2025 Xfinity Series champion, who finished his Super2 practice on the lower end of the timesheets but narrowed the gap to leaders as the day progressed. With high-profile crossover drivers like Cindric and familiar names such as Brodie Kostecki and David Reynolds, the intensity and unpredictability at Adelaide underscore the challenge for the entire field.
Looking forward, Friday brings Practice 2 at 10:30 am local time, followed by Boost Mobile Qualifying at 12:40 pm, as Cindric aims to build on his initial pace and further master the complexities of the street circuit. The continued adaptation and resilience of Team Penske’s Austin Cindric during his Supercars debut have added an extra dimension of anticipation to one of the most demanding weekends on the Supercars schedule, keeping attention firmly fixed on his progress as the championship unfolds.
.@leighdiffey has made the trip to Adelaide (albeit sounding very under the weather).
Also some good coverage of @AustinCindric. #NASCAR | #ADLGF | #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/9nIQy6ARge— JJ (@TomcatNASCAR_2) November 27, 2025
