Supercars contender Kai Allen has tipped “chaos” for the first finals races with wet weather forecast for the Gold Coast 500 this weekend.
Allen enters the championship rounds as the fifth seed behind points leader Grove Racing teammate Matt Payne.
Last year’s grand final heartbreak story Broc Feeney is second from Triple Eight teammate Will Brown with Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki breathing down their necks in fourth.
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Cam Waters, Anton De Pasquale, reigning Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, Ryan Wood and Jack Le Brocq round out the top 10 still in contention for the title.
Gold Coast’s concrete-walled street circuit is threatening enough — just ask Kostecki and Wood, who were eliminated from the finals after the first race around Surfers Paradise last year — but predicted rain adds another layer to the two 250km races.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast 2-20mm on Friday, 4-25mm on Saturday and 4-20mm on Sunday.
One mistake in the “tricky conditions” and it could be season over.
“It’s going to be very difficult with all the painted lines, it’s going to be super slippery,” Allen told Sunrise.
“Gold Coast roads are slippery at the best of times when it’s wet so throw a Supercar or 24 around here, it’s going to be chaos.
“I’m excited to see how the weekend plays out.”
Allen said he faced a “pretty steep learning curve” on his debut at the track last year but still finished third and sixth.
This time round every driver faces a new test after officials were forced to bring back tyre bundles at the beach chicane.
Last year’s viral images of airborne Mustangs and Camaros prompted their return, despite previously proving to be crash hazards.
The new bundles will be pushed back compared to previous years, though, ensuring the high kerbs can still be attacked to some extent.
“Honestly it’s like you’re a pinball chicane,” Allen said.
“You just hang on for dear life and your head’s getting bashed against the seat and you just fly through there.
“But it’s all about setting it up early, being really precise and, yeah, hanging on for dear life.”
Allen progressed through last year’s knockout rounds to be in the four-man grand final while teammate Matt Payne was eliminated in the penultimate round.
They are one of three sets of teammates in this year’s top 10, alongside Feeney and Brown (Triple Eight) and Mostert and Wood (Walkinshaw).
Six Mustangs make up the group alongside two Camaros (De Pasquale and Le Brocq) and two Mustangs (Mostert and Wood).
A race win will send a finalist automatically through to the Sandown 500 semi-finals, with three drivers to be eliminated by the end of the Gold Coast weekend.
Non-finals drivers will still compete for 11th and below in the championship standings.
Watch the Supercars Gold Coast 500 live and free across Saturday and Sunday on Seven and 7plus Sport
Supercars finals contenders
1. Matt Payne (3150 points)
2. Broc Feeney (3145)
3. Will Brown (3103)
4. Brodie Kostecki (3096)
5. Kai Allen (3066)
6. Cam Waters (3057)
7. Anton De Pasquale (3048)
8. Chaz Mostert (3039)
9. Ryan Wood (3030
10. Jack Le Brocq (3021)
How to watch Supercars Gold Coast on Seven
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
Sydney, Melbourne 1.30pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Brisbane 12.30pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Adelaide 1pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Perth 10.30am live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Head here to watch Supercars on 7plus Sport
Head here to check your local guides
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
Sydney, Melbourne 1pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Brisbane 12pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Adelaide 12.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Perth 10am live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Head here to watch Supercars on 7plus Sport
