Austin Cindric’s Supercars debut saw him battle torrential rain and rapidly shifting weather at the 2025 Adelaide Grand Final, as the wildcard NASCAR driver climbed into Tickford Racing’s #5 Ford Mustang for the very first time. With the Austin Cindric Supercars debut coming amid persistent downpours on the streets of Adelaide, Cindric dealt with one of the toughest circuits and unpredictable conditions that the touring car series is known for.
Adapting to Wet Weather and a New Racing Challenge
Cindric began day two of the Repco Supercars Championship finale at the back of the grid, starting in twenty-fourth place among twenty-five drivers. Undeterred by the soaking track and the rain’s ebb and flow, he managed to gain a spot and finished twenty-third, ensuring Tickford Racing’s Ford Mustang completed the race without incident. The driver, best known for winning the Daytona 500, entered the highly competitive field with an open mind and left the first day both relieved and optimistic.
Driver Reflects on His Rain-Soaked Initiation
Following Friday’s event, Cindric offered a candid summary of his experience in an Instagram video posted by Tickford Racing. He admitted to navigating the challenges of a wet first start and managing the unexpected obstacles inherent to Supercars racing.
“My first supercars race was wet. I think that’s kind of the extent of it. I didn’t finish last, but yeah, obviously a lot is going on. The first standing start was also done in the rain. Conveniently, the guy in front of me decided to stall, so that got pretty involved. Followed the queue around for a while, kind of figured out the limit.”
— Austin Cindric, Team Penske Driver
He detailed the progression of the race:
“About lap five or six we were in, and a lot of the cars in front of me kind of pitted, so I had to track myself for a while and kind of learned the tire. Then it kind of started raining again, then it really started raining again, and we had that red flag. So the Armor All Repco Ford Mustang is in one piece,”
he continued.
Promising Start but Eyes on Further Progress
In the 32-lap opening round of the Supercars Grand Final, Cindric emerged ahead of Will Davison from Tekno Autosports in the final classification. It was Brodie Kostecki who secured victory in the rain-altered Adelaide opener. For Cindric, the result was met with modest satisfaction—he viewed his performance as a foundation for growth as he takes on remaining races during the weekend at the Adelaide Street Circuit.
“We still have two races left on the weekend. Today was a good day to really learn, but yeah, I want to keep spoiling it up throughout the weekend. I would say I’m mildly satisfied with today, but yeah, like I said, I want to keep improving,”
Cindric continued. — Austin Cindric, Team Penske Driver
Next Races and Impact of Cindric’s Debut
With two more races on the horizon for the Supercars Grand Final, including the anticipated Top 10 Shoot Out and a challenging 78-lap contest, Cindric is set to continue his learning curve. His adaptation to the rain-soaked streets, alongside competitors such as Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison, drew interest from fans of both NASCAR and Supercars. The Austin Cindric Supercars debut highlights the demanding nature of racing in Australia and the skill required to handle ever-changing racing environments.
The outcome sets the stage for Cindric’s ongoing journey with Tickford Racing at the Adelaide Street Circuit. His experience underscores the challenge international drivers face in the Supercars series, and his measured optimism points to a weekend filled with opportunity and further development.
