Supercars Championship: 2026 Darwin Triple Crown Race 18 Recap
- Tayla Purves
- 2 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Photo Credit: Ash Bliss | Trackdown Media
Saturday morning qualifying was once again a thrilling turn out at Hidden Valley Raceway ahead of Race 18.
Cameron Waters topped the time sheets in the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout with a quick 1:06.038, breaking his pole-driven drought in his No.6 Monster Castrol Racing Mustang, marking his first of the season. Right behind him was his rival Brodie Kostecki in the No.17 Shell V Power Mustang.
On the second row, Matthew Payne got in on the action, placing himself in the perfect position for the seventy lap race. Chaz Mostert came in behind in fourth, marking his 400th race in the championship today.
As it happened
The wild nature of Supercars was clear with Race 18; the heat boiling despite it being the beginning of Winter in Australia - roughly above 31 degrees celsius with the track temperatures set to soar.
From the very start, Kostecki pounced on Waters, the two going door to door down to Turn 1, Waters picked up the lead while rookie Rylan Gray took a short scenic trip onto the grass.
A classic end of the pack bunch-up saw a few rough tug and bumps, but it remained tame enough until stewards issued a note of car No.19 for an alleged false start on Lap 2, which turned into a 5-second time penalty.
More action erupted between Payne and Kostecki, the No.19 Penrite Mustang hustling after his previous penalty.
Behind, Kai Allen and Broc Feeney had a bit of a bump and grind, Allen gaining the position ahead of the No
Lap 5, a power steering failure unfolded on the No.2 Toyota Supra, power steering fluid coating the track slightly, raising eyebrows from commentary on potential oils contaminating the racing line - Toyota's luck continued to worsen at Turn 5 as Mostert skidded onto the grass, rejoining mid-pack.
The middle of the field began to eat at the rear bumper of Mostert, the reigning champion seemingly in the midst of a battle to regain any positions lost, with added pressure from those chasing him down behind, to not lose any further.
Further worries on track conditions began for the rest of the field; Waters asking on the radio how other drivers are finding the track, gauging how to attack Turn 5 after previous slipperiness making itself known.
The racing mojo was found roughly around Lap 13, the flow of the race opening up as Waters and Payne created a gap from the pack.
On Lap 16, the first of the pit stops took place, Jack Le Brocq being the first to sneak in - Race 17 proved the early strategic stops pay off in the end, causing sparks of strategy to ignite on broadcast.
Lap 19, Thomas Randle came under fire from Will Brown, the two battling it out for track position - Brown looking quicker as he passed just before pit lane entry - this battle continued, Randle going after him at the next turn.
Lap 20, Payne took a compulsory pit stop, but did not serve his time penalty, meaning his 5-second penalty will be applied after the race is finished.
Lap 23, Zach Bates ran Declan Fraser wide after his own awkward return on track after a wobble, sending Fraser's No.777 Chevrolet Camaro for a spin onto the grass. Fraser rejoined and took his pit stop not long after - stewards noted the incident.
More drama unfolded for the Toyota Supercars clan, this time for Brad Jones Racing as a rattle gun failure made itself known during a pit stop for André Heimgartner.
A battle between Payne and Waters broke out, the No.6 Mustang moving quite a bit as the no.19 Penrite Mustang approached. The did not make contact.
Lap 28, a 15-second time penatly was awarded to Zach Bates for a pit infingement., the rookie coming under fire quite a bit in Saturday's stint.
Lap 30 saw the Penrite Racing teammates chasing down Waters, their speed undeniable this weekend. The whole field have now taken their first stop.
Allen pushed Payne to start looking for a potential move; each Penrite Mustang seemingly on a mission to win this race.
Bates and David Reynolds got rough on Lap 34, the two holding onto their positions in a wild rub and bump coming out of Turn 1, dust and debris flying every which way.
Moving under brakes at Turn 1 saw James Golding receive a bad sportsmanship flag during his battle with Mostert. This theme continued, the race leader, Waters, receiving his own bad sportsmanship flag for moving under braking.
Lap 37, Kostecki made his presence known on Payne, the mind game nudges proving as pressure to get a wiggle on, as Allen chased down Waters ahead of his teammate.
The Kostecki V Payne strategic battle continued ferociously, Kostecki all over the rear bumper as Allen ahead begins to disappear.
Yet another bad sportsmanship flag was given, but this time to Payne for moving under breaks ahead of Kostecki, their battle for third came to an end on Lap 42 - while ahead, Allen got the lead of the race over Waters.
A post session investigation will take place for car No.9, rookie Jobe Stewart coming under scrutiny for a pit stop infringement.
A compulsory two stop was in store for Race 18, with refuelling included, Payne taking his second stop on Lap 45 while teammate Allen began to open a gap on the field. At Turn 6, Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates worked together, doing a position swap, Feeney struggling with tyre deg.
Lap 49, Allen took his second compulsory stop, jumping out ahead of Waters - the gap not astronomical, but suffice enough.
Lap 54, Le Brocq proved to be a pain in the middle of each Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang - the No.4 Chevrolet Camaro weekend somewhat positive in terms of pace and catching the main leaders of the paddock.
Lap 55, Kostecki team radio broke out to suggest some data issues regarding fuel numbers and those being unavailable to race engineers, a challenge in itself; an electronic issue popping up due to the water bottle not working as it should as well.
Stewart and Payne came into a narrow miss, causing some minimal radio chat as Payne manoeuvred to get his end of race going.
Aaron Cameron, Cooper Murray and Reynolds had an interestingly close three-way battle on Lap 57, Murray all over the rear of the No.3 Liqui Molly Mustang, Murray and Reynolds eventually overtaking in a clean sweep motion.
Lap 60, Feeney and Mostert fire up with ten laps to go, the reigning champion attempting to make a move at Turn 5 on the current championship leader - Mostert heading to the inside at Turn 1 and gaining sixth position; his recovery drive well and truly on its way.
Car No.10, Bates, gained a 5-second time penalty for failure to serve a previous penalty in his latest pit stop.
Waters came under pressure by Kostecki on Lap 63; Waters reopening the gap as the battle came alive with patience while Payne approached the rear of the No.17 Mustang.
With five laps remaining, Kostecki hovered all over the rear bumper of Waters - dropping back to gain some cool air on very warm tyres.
Allen crossed the finish line in first, a stunning drive and strategic win coming to fruition.
It's been reported that an unwell Brodie Kostecki did gain medical attention after finishing the race with a podium result, allegedly suffering a helmet blockage. Randle also became unwell and reported to the medical centre after the race, his cool suit failing in the warm conditions. Both are expected to race in Sunday's Darwin finale.
Supercars are scheduled to return on track at Hidden Valley Raceway for Race 19 on Sunday 3:10pm AEST (local time).
The full results
Kai Allen 1:21.19.051
Cameron Waters
Brodie Kostecki
Matthew Payne
Will Brown
Chaz Mostert
Broc Feeney
Anton De Pasquale
Jack Le Brocq
Jayden Ojeda
James Golding
Thomas Randle
Rylan Gray
Andre Heimgartner
Declan Fraser
Macauley Jones
David Reynolds
Cooper Murray
Cameron Hill
Jackson Walls
Aaron Cameron
Zach Bates
Jobe Stewart
Ryan Wood - DNF
