Sandown 500 Preview
The Sandown 500, taking place at Sandown Motor Raceway in Melbourne, VIC, will run from Friday, 13th to Sunday, 15th September. Tickford Racing will be represented by two driver pairings: Tom Randle and Tyler Everingham in Car #55, and Cam Waters and James Moffat in Car #6. The event schedule features Qualifying on Saturday, 14th September at 14:15, followed by the Top Ten Shootout at 17:25 on the same day. The main 500 km race is set for Sunday, 15th September at 14:05.
Track Details
• Circuit Length: 3.1 km
• Corners: 13
• Laps: 161
• Race Distance: 500 km
Track Overview
Sandown Raceway promotes itself as “the home of horsepower,” and with good reason. As one of Australia’s oldest permanent motor racing facilities, it also features a busy horse racing circuit within its perimeter. The historic 3.1 km circuit in Melbourne offers a mix of fast straights and tight corners that challenge both speed and strategy. With 13 corners, Sandown Raceway includes a variety of fast, flowing turns and tighter, more technical sections. The long straights allow for high speeds, while technical corners like Dandenong Road test braking and cornering precision. Tyre degradation is a key concern due to the track’s abrasive surface, making tyre management crucial, especially over long stints. The old-school layout rewards smart driving and strategic pit stops, making it a fan favourite in the Supercars Championship.
Main Game Team Insights
Tickford Racing enters the Sandown round in a strong position, currently sitting 3rd in the team’s championship and aiming to maximise points. Cam Waters, coming off a solid performance in Tasmania, is eager to carry that momentum into this weekend, where he is 4th in the drivers’ standings. After a challenging round, Tom Randle is ready to make a fresh start with co-driver Tyler Everingham as the endurance season begins. The team will need to carefully balance race strategy and tyre degradation over the demanding 161 laps and 500 km. The weekend is expected to be unpredictable, with a 79% chance of rain on Saturday and a sunny forecast for Sunday. The team is keeping an eye on the weather and is prepared to adapt their race strategy if necessary.
Driver Thoughts
Thomas Randle (Car #55):
"It's fantastic to be back at Sandown, and with the new livery on the car as well it's a thing of beauty. The team has been coming into form over the year and we hope to keep improving as we kick off the enduros."
Cam Waters (Car #6):
Hopefully we have a little more luck this year and the rear wing stays on the thing for the whole race. Coming off the win in Tassie the team's feeling good and we've got a safe pair of hands with Moff back in the seat".
Dunlop Super 2 Series
Round 4 of the Dunlop Series sees the Tickford Racing drivers confident following a recent test day at Winton Raceway. Lochie Dalton, currently 6th in the championship, is eager to get back in the Super 2 car and maximise his points after his Sydney wildcard run. Rylan Gray, sitting 10th, aims to build on his strong Saturday performance in Townsville. Brad Vaughan, in 13th, is focused on bouncing back from a challenging Townsville weekend. We also wish him the best as he co-drives in the Matt Chahda Motorsport wildcard for Sandown and Bathurst.
Toyota 86 Series
In Round 3 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Championship, Charlie Nash aims to build on his performance from the previous round in Sydney. Having engaged in numerous competitive battles, Nash is determined to continue contending in the mid-pack while further refining his skills. The weekend will feature three races, each offering Nash a valuable opportunity to showcase his development.
For those wanting to catch all of the action, the event will be broadcast exclusively live and ad-free on Foxtel and Kayo.
