Tickford confirms cause of pre-race Randle cabin fire

A heated screen malfunction was behind the small fire that threatened to end Thomas Randle's Melbourne weekend on a sour note.

Race 7 of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship was abandoned after just two Safety Car laps due to heavy rain at Albert Park.

However, Randle's day nearly came undone before it began, leading to tense scenes on the starting grid.

Randle stopped just prior to the grid, with Tickford crew surrounding the #55 Castrol Ford Mustang with two fire extinguishers.

After a quick investigation under the bonnet of the car, Randle resumed his position in 12th on the grid. It mattered little, though, with the race eventually abandoned.

A small burnt patch was in the bottom left corner of the front windscreen, having caught fire initially at Turn 13 off camera, before catching fire again on the grid.

Speaking on Supercars’ Cool Down Lap podcast, Tickford Team Manager Matt Roberts confirmed a heated windscreen malfunction was behind the small fire.

“The heated screen had a bit of a malfunction and started to set fire to the inside of the cabin,” Roberts explained.

“Fortunately we got to it in time. I just had a vivid memory of two years ago here with JC [James Courtney]. But no, fortunately, nothing to do with the fuel system or engine system.

“We’ll go back and have a look at as to why it wanted to set fire to itself. Not ideal on the reconnaissance lap, but fortunately we were able to get to it and identify it early.”

Randle ended up 13th on weekend points, with teammate Cam Waters sixth.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will resume in New Zealand at the ITM Taupō Super 440 on April 11-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.