Supercars Championship 2026: Gold Coast 500 Preview
The Supercars Championship heads to Queensland’s Gold Coast this weekend - a notorious location in the country that’s known for its nightlife, atmosphere and coastal lifestyle.
This stage of the championship also brings in Finals; the championship battle heats up now, heading into its finals campaign.
10 drivers have qualified for the finals stage this year - Matthew Payne, Broc Feeney, Will Brown, Brodie Kostecki, Kai Allen, Cameron Waters, Anton De Pasquale, Chaz Mostert, Ryan Wood, and Jack Le Brocq.
These finalists consist of both Red Bull Ampol Racing Team drivers, Penrite Racing drivers, and Walkinshaw TWG drivers. One singular driver features from Team 18, Dick Johnson Racing - Shell V Power Racing Team, Tickford Racing, and Matt Stone Racing.
In 2025, this stage of the championship showed just how quickly the lead can change - Feeney missing out on his title hopes after a very strong performance-based year, Mostert taking the No.1 and placing it on his Toyota Supra at the Adelaide Grand Finale.
This weekend cuts off the top 10 qualifying drivers down to just seven during two demanding 85-lap races covering 250 km each over the weekend, making the title fight even more high-stakes at the very well-known concrete jungle that is the Gold Coast 500.
Two Practice sessions will take place on Friday, with two Qualifying sessions taking place each day over the weekend, followed by their own respective Boost Mobile Top Ten Shoot Out sessions.
This week will feature a street circuit in the very picturesque Surfers Paradise - it features 15 turns and is approximately 2.96 km (1.83 mi) in length.
The weather at Gold Coast this weekend is forecast to be wet, with rain featuring on all three days of track time, throwing a major twist into the title fight. The questions are rife about who will perform better in the wet, and who will have the driver skill to get the job done.
The epic Gold Coast 500 week was set off with Red Bull Ampol Racing executing their first themed livery; they unveiled their summer-inspired Gold Coast tribute on October 21, right under the iconic Surfers Paradise archway on Main Beach.
Upon the livery reveal, Broc Feeney’s No.88 Ford Mustang was encased inside a large toy-car-styled box, creating much anticipation among attendees.
The livery takes inspiration from the brand-new Red Bull Sudachi Lime, capturing the striking Red Bull yellow while showcasing its refreshing citrus flavour; the drink combines the sour-sweet taste of Japanese Sudachi with familiar lime, a subtle hint of pomelo, and notes of citrus peel.
The drink and the livery each bring a colourful and exciting taste of summer to the streets of the Gold Coast for this weekend’s action of speed and thrill.
The last lap record set on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit was set in 2013 by David Reynolds, sitting on a speedy 1:10.0480 and remains unbeaten.
This street circuit is a tricky track; narrow concrete canyon walls are the feature for the Gold Coast 500 - their impact only heightened by the high-speed chicanes and aggressive kerbs that have been known to throw cars airborne with little to no run-off room, meaning major chaos and thrilling action for fans watching from home or trackside.
Racing action begins at 12:45 AEDT (02:45 BST) on Friday on Fox Sports and KAYO.
The full weekend schedule
FRIDAY
Practice 1 25min - 12:45 AEDT (02:45 BST)
Practice 2 25min - 14::50pm AEDT (04:50 BST)
Boost Mobile Qualifying (Race 31) 30min - 17:05 AEDT (07:05 BST)
SATURDAY
Boost Mobile Top Ten Shoot Out (Race 31) 35min - 13:35 AEDT (03:35 BST)
Race 31 - 16:15 AEDT (06:15 BST)
SUNDAY
Boost Mobile Qualifying (Race 32) 35min - 12:20 AEDT (02:20 BST)
Boost Mobile Top Ten Shoot Out (Race 32) 35min - 13:05 AEDT (03:05 BST)
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