Auddino's pride in Adelaide Super3 participation

Super3 Series privateer Tony Auddino has defended his entry into this weekend's Dunlop Series finale in Adelaide as the sole entry in the category.

It was confirmed in the lead up to the VAILO Adelaide 500 that the Super3 Series would be no more in 2025, and that Project Blueprint era cars would be ineligible for the Super2 Series next year.

Having entered every round to date, MW Motorsport hasn't entered its two Nissan Altimas this weekend, due in equal part to Cody Burcher sealing the title at Bathurst and repairs required after crashes for both cars at Bathurst.

Burcher is in attendance this weekend with Eggleston Motorsport ahead of a full Super2 season next year, whilst teammate Thomas Maxwell is at the wheel of the #88 Eggleston Commodore this weekend in place of Cooper Murray.

That left Auddino as the sole Super3 entry, though instead of driving the VF Commodore he won the Sandown round with, he will be at the wheel of an ex-Tim Slade/Stone Brothers Racing FG Falcon.

The Falcon, driven by Antonio Molluso at Sandown, will be the last Project Blueprint-era car to compete in Supercars competition, whilst Auddino will be the final winner of a Super3 round.

Auddino took to social media on Wednesday evening to address why he entered the Adelaide round despite the absence of class competitors this weekend.

"I want to share a few thoughts before the comments start rolling in," Auddino began.

"Yes, we are the only Super3 car out there, and yes, we’re driving the oldest car and chassis specification (Project Blueprint vs Car of the Future).

"We could have easily chosen to withdraw when the other Super3 cars decided to step back, but for personal reasons, we remained committed to our entry.

"Over the past few weeks, our small team has transformed a car that had a tough finish at Sandown into something neat and fresh, ready for its final appearance in the Dunlop series."

The car experienced a terminal engine drama in the opening practice session at Sandown, which brought a premature end to Molluso's Dunlop Series debut, and has been rebuilt in the months since.

Given the car's Stone Brothers history, it somewhat ironically was sent to the home of the former Holden Racing Team for an engine rebuild, among other repairs that were carried out separately.

"Working on a car we were unfamiliar with presented its own set of challenges. We had to take the engine out and send it to Walkinshaw for inspections after some issues at Sandown, handle crash repairs, fabricate brackets, and remount and align the new front end, along with installing new oil coolers and a radiator - the list goes on," Auddino continues.

"While we may not be the fastest on the track, this marks a meaningful conclusion to our Dunlop journey, with our little team in a true sink-or-swim scenario.

"We’re out there living a dream that many others wish they could experience. It’s been a journey fuelled by determination to make a childhood dream come true.

"One of those incredible moments is strapping into a Stone Brothers car and hitting the track - what an amazing experience."

Auddino has been a long-time campaigner in the category back to the V8 Touring Car era, having campaigned a BF Falcon in the initial years of the Super3 Series from 2019 onwards before leasing Image Racing's VF Commodore this year.

The Dunlop Series takes to the track for two Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions tomorrow at the VAILO Adelaide 500. Race 11 Qualifying begins at 12:30pm local time/1:00pm AEDT, before Race 12 Qualifying at 4:55pm local time/5:25pm AEDT.