Anton De Pasquale is gearing up to defend his claim as the king of Taupo, having etched his name in history as the inaugural winner of the prestigious Jason Richards Trophy. After clinching the trophy in 2024 without crossing the finish line first in a race, De Pasquale’s consistency—marked by two solid third-place finishes during his tenure with DJR—proved enough to dominate the competition. Now, driving the #18 car for Team 18, the Chevrolet homologation outfit, he stands as General Motors' prime contender to repeat this feat as the battle for the Jason Richards Trophy intensifies.
The trophy's stakes escalate dramatically this year, expanding the contest to two fierce rounds, beginning at Taupo and culminating in Christchurch. Taupo’s unique circuit, with its flat yet intricately twisty and technical layout, promises another brutal test of skill and precision. De Pasquale himself stresses the importance of rhythm and flow to conquer this demanding track. “Taupō is a really cool track,” he says. “It’s quite technical with a lot of direction change, but it also rewards flow and rhythm when you get it right.”
Reflecting on his past performances, De Pasquale remains confident. “We had good speed there last year and were in the mix across the weekend, so it’s a track I’m looking forward to going back to. The goal is to build on what we’ve learned and roll out with a strong package from the start.” His ambition is clear: leverage last year’s solid foundation, sharpen the car’s performance, and push relentlessly forward.
There’s an added emotional charge for De Pasquale—returning to a track where he first secured the Jason Richards Trophy is “really special,” he admits. With the season already off to a promising start, he’s determined to maintain momentum and assert his dominance from the outset.
The intensity heats up as the weekend unfolds, with three high-stakes races scheduled from Friday through Sunday, each promising to test drivers and machines alike on Taupo’s challenging circuit. For fans and followers of Supercars, this is a weekend not to be missed, as De Pasquale and Team 18 aim to turn speed and precision into another historic triumph.
