Contrasting fortunes for Team 18
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 1 April 2025
Team 18 is one of the more interesting squads heading to the Taupo Super440 with its new recruit flying and incumbent battling.
De Pasquale has enjoyed a bright start to life at his new team, sitting a solid seventh in the championship.
The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent on the grid this year, being one of only three drivers to have finished every race so far in the top 10.
Even when De Pasquale has not qualified towards the front of the field, moving up 12 spots across the Melbourne SuperSprint weekend.
It is proof he can realistically believe he is within a shot at defending the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
Despite enduring his lowest championship finish in five years, a pair of third place finishes ensured he became the first driver to win the prestigious trophy without winning a single race across the weekend.
Perhaps the most promising aspect for De Pasquale is the fact that he still feels there is a lot more to improve.
“Overall, Melbourne was another decent weekend some sevenths and eighths,” De Pasquale said.
“It was solid. The race car was decent, but it could still be a little stronger late in the stint.
“We’re just working on our weaknesses now and we’re pretty clear on what they are and we’ll focus forward on New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, more experienced teammate Reynolds has had nothing go his way so far in 2025.
The #20 has finished in the top 15 just once, having found himself often in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Even when qualifying has gone his way, he has still tumbled down the order and got caught up in two incidents alone in the final race at Albert Park, while he was hopeful of things turning on the Sunday, starting 10th only for the rain to come and wash away more opportunities.
Having battled, the bruised Reynolds is hopeful of his luck finally changing in NZ.
“I’m looking forward to Taupo,” he said.
“I’ve had six races all year and five of them have been complete disasters with crashes, mechanical dramas and everything under the sun that’s happened.
“It’s the worst start of any championship I’ve been in, so Taupo can’t come quick enough to get the monkey off my back.”
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