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Revving Up Werribee South Pride: Local Talent De Pasquale and Teammate D'Alberto Make Waves at Mount Panorama
Anton De Pasquale (left), the talented driver raised in Werribee South, experienced an overwhelming sense of relief as he clinched his inaugural Repco Bathurst 1000 podium, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. The young prodigy, whose father is a farmer on K Road with his wife Michele, achieved this remarkable feat alongside his teammate Tony D’Alberto, who celebrated his first podium finish since 2017, while also bringing glory to DJR (Dick Johnson Racing) by delivering their first Bathurst podium since 2019.
De Pasquale, participating in his sixth Great Race, joined forces with Tony D’Alberto to drive the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s #11 Ford to a podium finish, igniting hope for the renowned Ford team on an otherwise challenging day at Mount Panorama. In this year’s Great Race, the team fielded three cars, but only De Pasquale and D’Alberto managed to secure a coveted spot on the podium.
The day proved to be less fortunate for the other Ford drivers on the team. Will Davison and Alex Davison had a tumultuous run, ultimately finishing in 16th place. Simona De Silvestro and Kai Allen, who ran as wildcards, crossed the finish line in 20th position. Meanwhile, Cam Waters, another Ford driver, recorded a Did Not Finish (DNF) due to a crash involving his co-driver James Moffat. Despite these challenges, Anton De Pasquale’s podium finish propelled him to seventh place in the drivers’ standings, while the team solidified its position in fourth place in the overall standings.
De Pasquale’s path to the podium was paved with a week of strong performances, securing third place in Friday’s qualifying session and fifth place in Saturday’s Shootout. For De Pasquale, the trophy was more than just a victory; it was a “relief” after years of mixed results at Bathurst, including finishes of 24th, DNF (Did Not Finish), ninth, DNF, and seventh. When asked if his third-place finish felt like a win, he responded with humility, stating, “We worked hard at this one.”
The podium celebration also shone a spotlight on Tony D’Alberto, the 2007 development series champion. D’Alberto, a relatively unheralded driver despite his impressive track record, added to his 2017 podium finish with the Ford team. He expressed his enduring connection with the team, saying, “I’ve been with this team for eight years; I love this group of people.” When questioned about his expectations for the race, D’Alberto admitted, “I thought maybe a top five finish was within reach, but the podium felt like a stretch.”
Now based on the Gold Coast, Anton De Pasquale’s next challenge awaits as he resumes his 2023 season at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 in three weeks’ time. Motorsport enthusiasts and fans eagerly await his next performance, hoping to witness more remarkable achievements from the talented driver who has etched his name in Bathurst history.
