Long way to bridge gap between Ford and GM in Supercars

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Anton De Pasquale earned Team 18 their second win of the Supercars season at Darwin, highlighting a modest improvement for General Motors amid ongoing questions about their competitiveness. Despite this victory, GM's factory program continues to lag behind dominant rivals Ford and Toyota, raising concerns about leadership and strategy as the championship progresses.

Anton De Pasquale secured a notable victory for Team 18 at the Supercars event in Darwin on Sunday, marking the team’s second win in 19 races this season. Despite the milestone, questions remain about the competitiveness of General Motors’ (GM) factory program in the current Supercars championship, particularly in comparison to rival manufacturers Ford and Toyota.

Team 18’s recent success slightly improves its win rate to 10.5 percent this season. However, this figure contrasts sharply with past performances under GM’s former factory-backed team, Triple Eight, which won 16 out of 33 races last year—achieving nearly a 49 percent success rate. Over the same span of 19 races this season, Ford has dominated with 14 wins, while Toyota secured three victories, highlighting a significant performance gap.

Industry observers have criticized GM’s response to losing key assets, especially after Ford acquired the Triple Eight team. Some argue that GM’s counterstrategy has lacked aggression and failed to keep pace with Ford’s consistency. According to one commentator, while Ford’s dominance reflects a rigorous, uncompromising culture of excellence—exemplified by teams like DJR under Roger Penske and parallels to elite sporting organizations—the GM program has yet to demonstrate the same level of competitiveness or intensity.

The dialogue surrounding GM’s standing also includes reflections on leadership and culture within motorsport and broader Australian sports contexts. Citing examples such as NRL coaches Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary, and AFL coach Chris Scott, it is suggested that sustained success requires relentless pursuit of excellence and an intolerance for mediocrity. Critics contend that winning one race early in the season is not sufficient indication of a program’s strength or trajectory, and that consistent performance over an entire campaign is the true measure of a team’s stature.

Despite the scrutiny, proponents of the GM program, including Team 18’s principal Adrian Burgess, continue to express optimism about the team’s progress and potential. An upcoming discussion on Fox Sports 506 between former racing champion Mark Skaife and Burgess is expected to address the current state of GM’s involvement in Supercars and the strategies moving forward.

The evolving dynamics between Ford, GM, and Toyota in Supercars reflect not only technical and competitive challenges but also broader themes of leadership, culture, and resilience within one of the world’s most fiercely contested touring car series.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.